Australia's Minjee Lee wins Evian Championship in sudden-death playoff

Australian golfer Minjee Lee won a sudden death playoff against overnight leader Jeongeun Lee6 to clinch the Evian Championship on Sunday for her first major title.

Lee6 had to take a drop shot when her second shot on the first extra playoff hole flew into a pond, while Lee's superb second attempt landed near the flag.

Lee6 ended with a bogey to give the 25-year-old Lee three putts for victory and a sixth LPGA title.

She missed the first but made the second and was doused in Champagne by 2015 Evian champion Lydia Ko.

Canada's Brooke Henderson finished tied for 25, going 1-under 70 in both her third and fourth rounds. The 23-year-old shot two birdies and two bogeys in her last round. 

Hamilton, Ont.-native Alena Sharp ended up tied for the 70th spot after hitting five bogeys and just two birdies in her final round. 

"I'm speechless ... been waiting for this for so long. It just feels unreal to have won. In the playoff, and all throughout today, I played really well to get myself in that position," Lee said. "I put a lot of pressure on myself to perform, it's just really nice to have a major title under my belt."

Her younger brother Min Woo Lee has two wins on the men's European Tour. He won the Scottish Open two weeks ago — also in a playoff and on the first extra hole.

"When we were really little, we used to go down to the driving range with Mom," she said. "We would just practice."

Lee is the first Australian to win at Evian since seven-time major winner Karrie Webb in 2006, before it was a major.

Lee and Lee6 had finished at 18 under overall, but in vastly different circumstances.

Lee trailed Lee6 by seven shots overnight but drew level with a superb 7-under 64 in the final round which included four birdies on the last five holes. After drifting away, Lee6 (71) hit back with three straight birdies to force a playoff.

Teenage American Yealimi Noh (67) finished third on 17 under when she missed a birdie chance on the 18th.

"A lot of positives, it's been my best major finish," the 19-year-old Noh said.

Lee and Lee6 both teed off strongly in the 18th-hole playoff.

Caddie knows best

Lee went for a 5-iron on her second shot, but caddie Jason Gilroyed advised her to switch to a 6-iron and was proved right.

"I think the yardage was for 5-iron, but with adrenaline and everything Gilly was like, 'Let's go 6-iron,'" she said. "It was six feet from the hole. Yeah, it worked out."

That increased the pressure on Lee6, whose tense second shot flew into the water. Her head dropped as she knew her chances of a second major had just gone. She won the U.S. Women's Open in 2019.

Japan's Ayaka Furue finished fourth, ahead of 18-year-old Thai Atthaya Thitikul.

Maguire tied for sixth with Ko, England's Georgia Hall and South Korea's In Gee Chun.

Top-ranked Nelly Korda (67) tied 19th and defending champion Jin Young Ko was 60th.

Lee held a tricky par on No. 17 and Noh put her hand on her face in frustration after missing a birdie on the 16th. Lee6 sank a birdie on that hole to pull level with Noh.

Lee6 and Noh then made birdies on No. 17 to stay one shot back from Lee and give themselves a chance.

Lee snacked on some fruit while she waited for them to finish the 18th, then realized there could be a playoff and started some putting practice.

Lee6 had a very long eagle to win the tournament and fell a distance short, but held her nerve to make birdie and set up a playoff.

Minutes later, it was all over.