Somehow, someway, Lilia Vu is an LPGA winner once more.
Vu, the second-best participant on the planet behind Nelly Korda, has battled a again harm for a lot of the season. She even missed the U.S. Women’s Open two weeks in the past, and needed to withdraw from the Chevron Championship in April due to her again. But Vu overcame that ailment—and an eight-shot deficit on Sunday—to win the Meijer LPGA Classic in thrilling trend.
Vu carded a 7-under 65 to climb up the leaderboard on Sunday, as she completed at 16-under-par, placing her in a tie with Lexi Thompson and Grace Kim after 72 holes. The trio wanted three holes to find out the winner, however ultimately, Vu made a birdie putt on the third playoff gap to seal the deal.
“I wasn’t serious about profitable,” Vu stated.
“This was the someday I used to be enjoying rather well. Felt actually good with my swing. Coming again from an harm, I used to be slightly up within the air, not figuring out my swing, and I felt like I didn’t know the place my arms had been if I wasn’t tight. I used to be simply attempting to make contact at this time. That’s it.”
Like Vu, Thompson got here from behind to get into the playoff. She fired a 4-under 68 on Sunday, whereas Kim, the 54-hole chief, carded a 1-over 73 on Sunday to fall again to the sector.
After all three girls made birdies on the primary two further holes, they walked over to the par-5 4th. After every participant discovered the inexperienced in regulation, Thompson and Kim missed their putts to increase the playoff whereas Vu sank her birdie putt for the win.
“I believe my mindset in relation to placing is fairly easy: It goes in, or it doesn’t,” Vu stated.
“I don’t put plenty of stress on it. That relieves the stress for me, and I am going for it.”
Vu gained her first LPGA win in Thailand in February 2023 from six photographs again, so she has expertise coming from behind.
“I felt like my first win I had blinders on,” Vu stated.
“In the ultimate spherical, I used to be targeted on making birdies. I felt like that at this time. I felt like I left some on the market, too. So as soon as I obtained the chance for the playoff, I obtained to the field, and my caddie stated, ‘There is nothing to lose now.’ We simply went on the market and performed.”
Vu known as this one in every of her most significant wins as a result of she didn’t know if she might ever play golf pain-free once more.
But clearly, she will.
Now, Vu has her fifth profession LPGA victory as she eyes one other main championship at subsequent week’s KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. Hopefully, her again holds up for her at Sahalee.
Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Playing Through. For extra golf protection, comply with us @_PlayingThrough on all main social platforms. You may also comply with her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.
Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be positive to take a look at @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You can comply with him on Twitter @jack_milko as effectively.
