From Hero to Leader: Haeran Ryu Takes Charge at Chevron Championship after Playing Alongside Idol Tseng
Haeran Ryu experienced a memorable first round at the Chevron Championship, playing alongside her childhood hero Yani Tseng. Growing up in South Korea, Ryu and her father would watch Tseng dominate the LPGA Tour, winning five major championships between 2008 and 2011.
Before Thursday's round, Ryu made sure to introduce herself to Tseng and share how she grew up watching her play. The meeting was especially meaningful as Ryu went on to shoot a bogey-free 7-under 65, earning a share of the first-round lead at the season's first major championship.
"Yeah, my father is a big fan of Yani Tseng," Ryu recalled. "Before I turned pro, she was still on the LPGA Tour. [When] Yani [was] on top of the leaderboard, he told me, 'Hey, come here and you can see this Golf Channel. Yani is going to the top. Yes!'"
The 24-year-old Ryu will have another opportunity to play alongside the 36-year-old Tseng in Friday's second round, as they're paired together again with Jeeno Thitikul for a 2:10 p.m. tee time. While living out her childhood dream of playing with her idol, Ryu remains focused on pursuing her goal of winning her first major championship.
With three rounds remaining and momentum from her opening performance, Ryu has positioned herself well to potentially achieve both dreams - playing with her hero and securing a major victory at The Chevron Championship.