**I'll get to Haeran Ryu in a second, but first - a reminder that HYPE INTRO makes the best voice-over walkup introductions in the world. Golf, baseball, basketball, softball, stand-up comedy, conference room presentation - we do it all {hey, at least we're not asking for a donation, like Wikipedia...}
South Korea's Haeran Ryu won the LPGA's inaugural Black Desert Resort Championship Presented by Greater Zion in Ivins Utah, besting major champion Ruoning Yin and Olympic Silver Medalist Ether Henseleit. The 5-shot win was darn near a cake walk. She was cruising since her opening round 63. The victory marks Ryu's 3rd career win.
Haeran has definitely been on a heater, lately. Black Desert was Ryu's second 54-hole in the last 2 weeks, though she struggled a bit in the final round of last week's Chevron Championship in {The} Woodlands, Texas {that course is so boring...I have no idea why they moved a major championship there}.
The course at Black Desert is sick. It's so visually stunning that it makes you wonder why the Golf leagues don't do more in more scenic places like it. Ticket sales, probably. Low attendance leading to poor TV broadcasts, probably.
Who cares, probably?
Ryu had a beautiful par save on the 12th in what could have been a 2-shot swing with Henseleit to cut the lead to two. Henseleit clanged a birdie chip off of the stick and left herself a downhill 6-foot dripper she had to drill to save par. After taking less club into the par 3, Haeran left a 50-ish feet birdie putt about 15 feet short. She drilled the uphill Right-to-Lefter to remain bogey-free. Ryu eagled the very next hole to push the lead to 4 and slam the desert door on the Utah field.
I have watched every shot of LPGA's coverage on Golf Channel for the past 3 years. I think Haeran Ryu is the next player on the horizon to jump up and challenge Nelly Korda and Jeeno Thitikul for the top spot in the world rankings. Now that she has a zero-torque putter she is liking, watch out.
OF NOTE #1: My friends and I followed Haeran's group at the 2024 JM Eeagle LA Championship at Wilshire Country Club, because I am a believer of her hype, and wanted to see her put on her usual masterclass of driver, fairways, and long irons. Highly recommended.
OF NOTE #2: The organizers of the Black Desert event provided private flights/car service for the players from last week's Chevron in the Houston area to Utah. A real touch of class. So often {looking @ you, Lake Nona}, the LPGA receives second-rate treatment that no one would dream perpetrate on the PGA Tour players. I submit that I am the LPGA's #1 fan. And, I want to start doing my small part to advocate for the growth and well-being of the tour. The talent is massive. The golf is fantastic. And, they complain and cry way less than the men when things don't go their way {looking @ you, Scottie Scheffler and John Rahm...}.
OF NOTE #3: I'm all in on golf in Utah. I don't know how close Black Desert and Sand Hollow are to Greater Zion National Park, but I'm guessing it's close because they sponsorted the event. BUT...it doesn't matter to me because if I ever get anywhere near Zion National Park, I'll be on one of the local golf courses {looking @ you, Sand Hollow}.
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_Todd from HYPE INTRO