The final women’s major of the season concluded on Sunday in France, and The Evian Championship provided plenty of fireworks and drama on the 72nd green. What exactly did you miss? Here are the essentials.
Who won: Angela Stanford (12 under)
Why it matters: Stanford became the second-oldest first-time major winner in LPGA history. It’s the 40-year-old’s sixth career LPGA victory.
How it happened: Stanford, in the penultimate group, made an eagle on 15 to tie Amy Olson for the lead but gave it back with a double on 16. She bounced back with a birdie on 17 and barely missed her birdie putt on 18 that would have again tied Olson. Still, Stanford’s three-under 68 was good for the clubhouse lead with one threesome behind her. Olson led after 54 holes and needed a par on the 18th to win, but she made double bogey. Mo Martin and Sei Young Kim also missed birdie putts on 18 that would have forced a playoff with Stanford. Olson, Martin, Kim and Austin Ernst tied for 2nd at 11 under.
Best quote: “I have no idea what just happened. I’m grateful. I’m so happy for everybody at home. Everybody that’s always cheered for me. They never gave up on me. God’s funny. He catches you off guard just maybe when you think you are done.” — An emotional Stanford, seconds after winning her first major title.
Who won without winning: Rachel Heck closed her second career major appearance with an even-par 71 and tied for 44th. Why should you care? She’s 16!
Notables: Jessica Korda (T8), Inbee Park (T8), Lydia Ko (T10), Brooke Henderson (T10), S.Y. Ryu (T10), Ariya Jutanugarn (36th), Brittany Lincicome (T49).
Best closing round: Lizette Salas shot a six-under 65, the best score of the day by two strokes, to jump into a tie for 26th.
What else happened: The Americans came across the Atlantic and put on a show. Stanford became just the fourth American female major winner in the last four years, joining Danielle Kang (2017), Brittany Lang (2016) and Brittany Lincicome (2015). Six Americans finished in the top eight.
Best shot: Austin Ernst from waaaaaay downtown to birdie the par-4 6th hole. She had the clubhouse lead until Stanford finished a shot ahead. (Honorable mention: Stanford’s fairway wood from the 15th fairway, setting up her eagle.)
That's how it's its done 💪@AustinErnst92 @GolfChannel pic.twitter.com/8o1iZqhp89
— LPGA (@LPGA) September 16, 2018
Worst shot(s) when it mattered: Olson, who was also in the final group of the ANA Inspiration earlier this season but came up short, stepped to the par-4 18th needing a par to win. Instead she missed the fairway left — just her second missed fairway of the day — and was caught in thick rough. Her punch out didn’t make it back to the fairway and her approach left a long par putt. She ran that well by and then missed a 10-footer for bogey to hand Stanford the trophy.
