Ayaka Furue wins the 2024 Amundi Evian Championship by one shot with an eagle on the final hole.
Ayaka Furue claimed a maiden Major at the Amundi Evian Championship, after a stunning final five holes which saw her grab victory from both Stephanie Kyriacou and Patty Tavatanakit with an eagle on the final hole.
The eagle on 18 to get to 19-under-par, was enough to edge out Kyriacou whose birdie left her one shot behind, whilst Tavatanakit's stunning 63, which also included an eagle on the last, dropped her from clubhouse leader to third at 17-under-par.
Furue becomes the second Japanese Major winner this season after Yuka Saso at the U.S. Women's Open and the first to win the Amundi Evian Championship since it became a Major.
Having only got into a share of the lead heading into the final hole, afterwards she admitted that until the 15th hole she didn't feel she had been playing well and that "just kept trusting myself and then just keep going." She also admitted to being a new fan of Star Wars and was using the mantra "Let the force be with you."
A strong Sunday from the final group

With three players in the final group all looking for their first Major title, they could have been forgiven for buckling a little under the pressure. However, from the outset, the trio of Stephanie Kyriacou, Lauren Coughlin and Ayaka Furue all settled into the round with barely a hint of any nerves.
The weather was warm, the course felt like it was playing pretty fair and the players were able to capitalise on birdie opportunities which were presented to them. Most notably on the third hole where only four players had birdied the hole until the final trio raised it to seven.
Of the three is was Ayaka Furue who seemed to not look as settled and made the only bogey from the group on the front nine on the par 3 5th hole. After six holes, Coughlin had risen to the top at 16-under-par and was three-under-par for her round. Kyriacou would join her with a birdie on seven but another birdie on nine saw Coughlin take a one shot lead at 17-under-par into the back nine.

A string of pars followed from Coughlin and Kyriacou, whilst Furue added another bogey on 12. It seemed like it might be a two horse race as the American and Australian seemed unflappable.
Five holes to play
But we've all watched enough Major Sundays to know that with five holes to play, there is still a lot that can happen. Momentum seemed shift when Furue holed a long range birdie putt on 14. The 24-year-old then did it again on the par 5 15th, Kyriacou responded with her own birdie but Coughlin was disappointed to only get a par.
The par 3 16th, which was the scene of an unbelievable hole in one earlier in the day from Peiyun Chien, saw Kyriacou rise to the occasion and grasp hold of the lead again with her birdie. At 18-under-par, her lead was one from Furue who produced her third birdie in a row, whilst Coughlin's first bogey of the day dropped her to 16-under-par.
The potential charge from players outside of the final group looked like it wasn't going to materialise during the final round of the Amundi Evian Championship. However, as the final holes played out it became apparent that joint first round leader Patty Tavantanakit wasn't going away. After putting disappointment on Saturday, Tavantankit, who was two groups in front, put together a round of the week. She may rue the fact that it wasn't a lip-out free round but a 329 yard drive on 18 set her up with an approach for eagle, which she duly sank (no lip out this time) to set the target at 17-under-par.
Coughlin looked rattled from her bogey on 16 and Kyriacou seemed nervy with her lead with just two holes to play. Both will be disappointed with how the hole played out and in the end a bogey a piece would stop Coughlin's Major ambitions and mean Kyriacou would need at least a birdie on the last to win. Furue on the otherhand nearly holed a third long range birdie - a Major champion in the making?
Ayaka Furue Amundi Evian Champion
Heading onto the 18th, both Furue and Kyriacou were tied with Tavatanakit at 17-under-par. Whilst Kyriacou's drive landed in rough, meaning she had to lay up. Furue was able to go for the green in two. With a heart stopping bump (landing just over the water) onto the front of the green, she set up her eagle putt, whilst Kyriacou had a very good look at birdie.
Considering the length of putts that Furue had been converting over the last four holes, fans could feel pretty confident that the putt would go in and it duly did. Smiles and a few tears as the Japanese player claimed her first Major. Kyriacou had a consolation birdie putt which she sank to claim her highest place in a Major to date.

As champagne was poured over Ayaka Furue in true French fashion, the chapter ends on the 30th edition of the tournament and its 11th as a Major. A worthy winner who is really only getting started, with this new found confidence we're sure Ayaka Furue has much more to offer this season and beyond.
View the full Amundi Evian Championship leaderboard here.
Inspired by the fourth women's Major of the season? Why not come and watch the best players in the world at the AIG Women's Open this summer at St Andrews. Ticket prices start from £20.
