The first FM Championship at TPC Boston in Norton, Massachusetts was full of excitement and surprises, culminating in a slow but eventful final round. Riuxin Liu started off the final day with seven straight birdies, despite a rocky start to the week with a 9 on her first hole. She managed to claw her way back into contention with a total of 25 birdies over the week. Haeran Ryu also had an up-and-down week, shooting a 10-under 62 on Friday followed by a 78 on Saturday. Despite a bogey on the 16th hole on Sunday, she found herself tied with Jin Young Ko at 15 under through 14 holes.
Jin Young Ko, a seasoned player with 15 LPGA wins, was looking to secure her first win of the 2024 season. With rain coming down, Ko narrowly missed a birdie putt on the 18th hole, forcing a playoff with Ryu. The playoff only lasted one extra hole, with Ko missing the green with her third shot and ultimately losing to Ryu, who secured her second LPGA victory with a two-putt from 12 feet. Liu finished solo third, just one shot behind at 14 under, while Allisen Corpuz and Jeeno Thitikul tied for fourth at 13 under. Celine Borge, Ariya Juntanugarn, Jennifer Kupcho, and Arpichaya Yubol tied for sixth at 11 under.
Looking ahead, the LPGA is taking a break before the Solheim Cup on September 13-15. The next tournament on the schedule is the Kroger Queen City Championship in Cincinnati, Ohio, from September 19-22. This event marks the beginning of nine remaining tournaments on the 2024 schedule, promising more thrilling golf action for fans and players alike. Stay tuned for more updates on the exciting world of women’s professional golf.
