"The Starter" recaps the week gone by in golf. PGA Professional Brendon Elliott, a three-decade industry veteran, provides his insights for RG. This week, Elliott breaks down Mao Saigo capturing her first major on the LPGA Tour and team Novak-Griffin winning at the Zurich.
Saigo Emerges Victorious in Five-Way Chevron Championship Playoff
In a finish that will be remembered for years to come, Japan's Mao Saigo captured her first major championship Sunday at the Chevron Championship, winning a tension-filled five-way playoff with a clutch birdie on the first extra hole.
The 23-year-old LPGA Tour sophomore, who was named Rookie of the Year last season, made history as the first Japanese winner in the event's history and became just the fifth major champion from Japan.
"This is like dreaming," Saigo said through a translator after the victory. "It was my big dream and goal this year. I still can't believe it."
Saigo's path to victory was anything but straightforward. After starting the day tied for the lead with South Korea's Haeran Ryu at 9-under, she struggled through a final round that included five bogeys. But when it mattered most, Saigo delivered, sinking a crucial birdie putt on the 18th hole in regulation to card a 2-over 74 and finish at 7-under 281, forcing her way into the playoff.
The playoff featured a star-studded cast including China's Ruoning Yin, South Korea's Hyo Joo Kim, Thailand's Ariya Jutanugarn, and American Lindy Duncan, who was seeking her first LPGA Tour victory after more than a decade on tour.
Playoff Drama Unfolds on the 18th
The playoff, contested on the par-5 18th hole, provided maximum drama. Yin took an aggressive line, reaching the green in two by carrying the water hazard. Saigo and Jutanugarn both went over the green with their second shots, while Duncan was short of the green in three, and Kim found the putting surface with her third shot.
After Saigo and Jutanugarn missed their eagle attempts, all eyes turned to Yin, whose eagle putt from about 12 feet to win outright rolled eight feet past the hole. The tension mounted as Kim missed her birdie attempt, Duncan failed to save par from 10 feet, and Yin's birdie putt cruelly lipped out.
When Jutanugarn's eight-foot birdie attempt also lipped out, Saigo was left with a four-foot birdie putt for the championship. She calmly rolled it in, securing the $1.2 million winner's check from the $8 million purse and earning the right to take the traditional champion's leap into the water beside the 18th green.
Ariya's Late Stumble Opens Door
The playoff might never have happened if not for a shocking mistake by Jutanugarn on the final hole of regulation. Leading by one stroke at the 18th tee, the two-time major champion blasted her second shot over the green and off the grandstand. What followed was a stunning miscue as she stubbed her chip shot, barely moving the ball, before eventually making a bogey that dropped her into the tie at 7-under.
That mistake denied Jutanugarn what would have been her third major victory and first in seven years, instead creating the opportunity for Saigo's breakthrough moment.
Aussies Show Promise but Fall Short
Australia's contingent showed flashes of brilliance but ultimately couldn't challenge for the title. Two-time major champion Minjee Lee posted a final-round 74 to finish at 2-under, tying for 14th place alongside world number one Nelly Korda, who shot a final-round 70.
Steph Kyriacou finished T30 at 2-over after an even-par 72, while Cassie Porter completed her major championship debut at 3-over. Gabriela Ruffels (+4) and Grace Kim (+6) rounded out the Australian performances.
Korda, who won this event last year during her record-tying streak of five consecutive victories, remains winless in 2025.
PGA TOUR: Novak Finds Redemption at Zurich Classic
On the men's side, Andrew Novak finally found himself in the winner's circle after a heartbreaking playoff loss to Justin Thomas at last week's RBC Heritage. Paired with Ben Griffin at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, the PGA TOUR's only team event, the duo captured their first TOUR victories with a one-stroke triumph.
Novak and Griffin posted a 1-under 71 in Sunday's challenging alternate-shot format to finish at 28-under 260 at TPC Louisiana, holding off identical Danish twins Nicolai and Rasmus Højgaard, who finished second after a final-round 68.
Weather and Late Drama Add to Tension
The final round in Avondale, Louisiana, wasn't without its challenges. Play was suspended for over 90 minutes due to weather, with Novak and Griffin on the eighth hole. When play resumed, the leaders found themselves in a battle as Jake Knapp and Frankie Capan III caught them before the eventual champions pulled ahead again.
The pivotal moment came at the par-3 17th, where Griffin drained a clutch birdie putt from nearly 35 feet to give his team a two-shot cushion. The putt proved crucial after Capan had pulled his tee shot into the water, effectively ending his team's chances.
McIlroy and Lowry Fade Late
Defending champions Rory McIlroy, fresh off his Masters victory, and Shane Lowry appeared poised to make a Sunday charge. The Irish duo was just three shots off the lead through 12 holes before their momentum stalled with three late bogeys, including a costly miscue at the par-4 13th, where both players mishit chips before McIlroy missed a par putt from just inside 11 feet.
Despite tumbling down the board, all the way to 12th place, the Masters champ and his favorite playing partner remained crowd favorites throughout the week. Rory acknowledged the gallery multiple times, showing his appreciation for them as he walked onto the final green. To the delight of the fans, Lowry proceeded to roll in a fifteen-foot birdie putt on the final green. A smiling McIlroy went on to jokingly retrieve the ball and toss it into the greenside pond.
The very impressive Højgaard twins came ever so close to securing their first PGA TOUR victory. Nicolai made a spectacular 42-foot birdie putt on the par-3 14th to pull within one stroke of the lead, and on the 16th, Rasmus narrowly missed a 27-foot birdie putt that would have tied for the lead, with the ball stopping agonizingly on the edge of the hole.
PGA TOUR rookies Isaiah Salinda and Kevin Velo, who had set the tournament better-ball record with a 58 on Thursday and led after each of the first two rounds, finished with a final-round 71 to tie for eighth at 24-under.
As the golf world turns its attention to next week's events, both Saigo and the team of Novak and Griffin will savor their breakthrough victories, each marking significant milestones in their respective careers.
Brendon Elliott, a distinguished PGA Professional, is best known for his dedication to the growth and development of junior golf. With nearly three decades of experience, Elliott has been recognized multiple times as one of the best instructors, both regionally and nationally.
Elliott's crowning achievement was being named the 2017 PGA of America National Youth Player Development Award Winner, a testament to his exceptional skills and dedication. He is the founder of Little Linksters, an award-winning youth golf academy and nonprofit that works with kids of all abilities to help them develop a passion for golf. His innovative teaching methods and love for the game have made significant impacts on students and the broader golfing community.
Additionally, Brendon, a Golf Writers Association of America member, has become a renowned freelance golf writer, further solidifying his position as a top professional in the industry.
