SO YEON RYU PLAYOFF MAJOR WIN OVER LEXI

So Yeon Ryu claims play-off win over Lexi Thompson at ANA Inspiration
By Ali Stafford

Lexi Thompson was handed a four-shot penalty during the final round of the ANA Inspiration

So Yeon Ryu birdied the first extra play-off hole to claim a dramatic victory over Lexi Thompson in an incident-packed final round at the ANA Inspiration.

Final leaderboard  ANA Inspiration

Ryu rolled in a six-foot birdie at the 18th in the play-off to edge ahead of Thompson, who was controversially handed a four-stroke penalty mid-round for an incident from the previous day.

The pair had finished level on 14 under for the tournament, with Inbee Park and Minjee Lee a further stroke back alongside Suzann Pettersen

Pettersen was one of three players to end the week on 13 under

"I cannot believe the situation," Ryu said. "I didn't even check the leaderboard, Lexi was playing so well. I didn't expect it."

Taking a two-shot lead in to the final round, Thompson extended her advantage with three birdies in his opening seven holes but carded a first blemish of the day at the par-four 12th.

It was at that point the American was tournament officials that she was being punished for incorrectly replacing a marked ball on the 17th green on Saturday, while also incorrectly signing her scorecard.

Thompson bounced back immediately and drained a long-range birdie at the 13th to retain a share of the lead, before cancelling out a gain at the 15th with a bogey-five at the next.

Thompson narrowly missed out on a second major title

Trailing clubhouse leader Ryu by one as she headed to 18th, Thompson found the par-five green in two but left her 15-foot eagle putt for victory just short to close a five-under 67.

Pettersen had the chance to make it a three-way play-off but missed a final-hole birdie chance, while Park and Lee posted matching 69s.

Michelle Wie also carded a three-under 69 to end the week in sixth spot, while England's Charley Hull finished the week in a share of 14th