Ayaka Furue won the first Major title of her career on Sunday after an eagle at the 72nd hole gave the Japanese player a one-stroke victory in the Amundi Evian Championship.
Furue sealed her greatest achievement on 19-under following a closing 65 at Evian Resort - a round which was capped by a run of five-under through her closing five holes when she was three back.
After starting with three consecutive birdies from the 14th, Furue eventually burst past eventual runner-up, Stephanie Kyriacou to clinch a dramatic success.
The young Australian was in pole position to land her own first Major championship with just a couple of holes to play, only for a costly chunked chip near the 17th green to drag her back into the pack heading down the last.
With three players - including clubhouse leader Patty Tavatanakit, who had made an eagle on the last herself - on 17-under as the sun set on a superb event, a wayward drive from Kyriacou allowed the 2022 Women's Scottish Open winner to charge through the opening and roll home a mid-range putt for eagle.
Ayaka Furue with the 2022 Women's Scottish Open trophy
Kyriacou managed a birdie, regardless, but it was not enough to force a playoff and the Japanese woman continued her country's success in Majors this year - following on from Yuka Saso at the US Women's Open last month.
Immediately after her victory, 24-year-old Furue said: "Breathtaking, like incredible and I'm so speechless. I didn't believe that I can get the major win so I'm so happy right now."
Furue - who was World No.21 before the Evian Championship - began Sunday just a shot behind overnight leader Kyriacou and was involved, along with several other players, in a brilliantly-entertaining battle at Evian Resort Golf Club.
With momentum difficult to find despite decent scoring in south-east France, Furue revealed she was required to "use The Force" in order to pull her best golf out.
The self-confessed new Star Wars fan said: "I became a Star Wars fan like a month ago, and then I love the sentence, 'may The Force be with you.'
A major champion with a pretty major comeback!@kodebuchanayaka earns her second LPGA title with a win at the @EvianChamp 🏆FULL LEADERBOARD ⬇️ https://t.co/u9TKje2LDlJuly 14, 2024
"Then I believe that sentence on 15th hole. I just -- the sentence came up in my mind and I was just keep going on with that quote, yeah."
Furue became the fourth Japanese woman to win a Major following on from Hisako Higuchi at the 1977 LPGA Championship, Hinako Shibuno at the 2019 AIG Women's Open, and Saso at this year's Women's US Open.
The fifth and final women's Major of the season is the AIG Women's Open which takes place at St Andrews between 21-25 August.
-
Ryann O’Toole Facts: 13 Things You Didn't Know About The American ProGet to know the UCLA alum, who claimed her maiden LPGA/LET title in 2021
-
The 5 Biggest Myths About The Golf SwingHere, we look at five pieces of advice on the golf swing that are not necessarily as obviously correct as they seem...
-
R&A Plans To Use Same Courses On Both Open Rotas With 'One Exception' For Women's ChampionshipMartin Slumbers said that both the men's and women's Open Championship will move towards being played at the same courses - but "with one exception" for the AIG Women's Open
-
Brutal AIG Women's Open Weather Forecast Set To Bring 45mph GustsThe world's best players are set to be tested to the extreme this week, with R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers hoping for no delays
-
AIG Women's Open Announces Prize Money Increase For 2024 With Champion Earning Record FigureThis year's champion is to take home the highest figure in Women's Open history at almost $1.5 million
-
Lexi Thompson Plays Down Final Major Talk And Reveals 'No.1 Goal'Thompson refused to be drawn on whether the AIG Women's Open would definitely be her last Major while sharing what her immediate focus is
-
Stacy Lewis Suggests New Solheim Cup Playoff FormatThe USA captain thinks a playoff should be introduced in the event of a tie, as seen in last year's match at Finca Cortesin
-
'Everything Comes To An End' - Catriona Matthew Confirms Final AIG Women's Open AppearanceThe 2009 champion says that this year's AIG Women's Open will be her last
-
Meet The 5 Amateurs Playing In The AIG Women’s OpenThe AIG Women’s Open will feature five amateurs among the 144-player field – here are the details on how they reached the Major
-
Charley Hull Explains Why She Finds St Andrews 'A Harder Links' Than Most Ahead Of AIG Women's OpenThe World No.10 shared a swing change she has been working on recently and explained why St Andrews' Old Course represents a particularly difficult challenge for her
