Haeran Ryu just won her first major championship. But before she did, she spent a month at home eating her mother's cooking, and she's not shy about giving it some of the credit.

Ryu, the 25-year-old golfer, spoke to reporters Sunday after winning the 2026 KPMG Women's PGA Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota. She finished at 13 under par, two shots clear of Ina Yoon, after rounds of 73, 64, 68, and 70. It was the first major title of her career.

Asked whether the month off she took before the tournament was worth it, Ryu didn't hesitate. 

"I don't have to a lot stressful for the golf and then just hang out and then just eat some great food from my mom," she said to the reporters, according to the video posted by TenGolf on YouTube. "So it was so good sign for me and then good rest, and I can do play well this week."

The break had a complicated backstory: Ryu made the difficult decision to skip the U.S. Women's Open to recover from minor surgery and reset her game. She spent time with her parents and friends, and rested completely before returning to competition.

She arrived at Hazeltine and opened with a 73 in a tie for 70th. Ten shots back after round one, her only stated goal was to make the weekend. She then went out and shot a bogey-free 64 with eight birdies in round two to get back in contention.

She became the first major champion in at least 60 years to rally from a 10-plus-shot deficit after the first round.

The 2023 LPGA Tour Rookie of the Year also became the sixth South Korean to win the Women's PGA Championship in the last 12 editions.

From a tough start to a champion’s finish

Sunday was far from straightforward. Ryu bogeyed three of her first five holes and watched four different players hold a solo lead across the front nine. 

She settled down and went 4 under over the final 12 holes to pull away from the field. The key moment, she said, was the second shot on No. 10.

"That hole is so tricky because the tee shot's little narrow for me, and then the second shot is just by to the reverse," Ryu said to the reporters in the same presser. "It's a little windy up there, so always I felt like little hard at that hole. But I makes a birdie at hole 10."

She ranked in the top three on tour in approach, tee to green, and greens in regulation throughout the week. On the 18th green, she laughed. Friends were waiting with champagne. Her mom was on site and nearly in tears.

What do you think, is Ryu's KPMG win the biggest major upset of 2026? Let us know in the comments!

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Written by

Sneha Abraham

Edited by

Shubhi Rathore