Carlota Ciganda, the Spanish golf star known for her quiet consistency and European grit, delivered one of the most emotional and unexpected triumphs of the 2024 LPGA season ending a near-decade-long title drought by winning the Meijer LPGA Classic in Michigan.
At 35, Ciganda birdied the final two holes at the Blythefield Country Club to clinch victory by a single shot over South Korea’s Choi Hye-jin, finishing with a sizzling five-under-par 67 for a total of 16-under. Her last win on the LPGA Tour came in 2016 — a time when most of her current competitors were still rising talents on junior circuits.
The Final Push: Heart, Power, and Precision
Entering the final round tied in a six-way battle at the top, Ciganda needed more than talent — she needed poise under pressure. With the championship on the line, she executed back-to-back birdies on the 17th and 18th holes, showing nerves of steel and championship-level maturity. Meanwhile, Choi Hye-jin, her playing partner and toughest rival of the day, suffered a costly bogey at the 17th — a slip that gave Ciganda the narrow edge she needed.
“It feels amazing, obviously, after all these years,” Ciganda said, emotions barely held in check. “I knew I could do it, but once the years keep going and you start getting older, you start doubting yourself.”
Those doubts melted away in Michigan.
A Win That’s Bigger Than a Trophy
This wasn’t just another victory — it was a statement. After years of playing second fiddle in major tournaments and settling for top-10 finishes without clinching the win, Ciganda proved that resilience beats trends and that veteran strength can still outshine the younger generation on any given Sunday.
Her last two LPGA victories came in rapid succession — October and November of 2016. Since then, she’s collected wins on the Ladies European Tour and performed strongly for Team Europe in multiple Solheim Cups, but the elusive LPGA Tour win had become a growing question mark in her otherwise solid career.
Ciganda’s Comfort Zone
For Ciganda, the Blythefield course felt like home — and that may have made all the difference.
“I love coming here,” she said with a smile. “It reminds me of where I’m from in the northern part of Spain. Very similar. Lots of trees, peaceful. I love the golf course. Five par fives, you can hit it hard here.”
The course setup played to her strengths — combining her powerful drives with strategic finesse on the greens. She outlasted Somi Lee (14-under) and weathered challenges from big names like Lexi Thompson, Celine Boutier, and Nanna Koerstz Madsen, who all finished at 13-under.
A Spark for European Golf?
Ciganda’s win comes at a time when European women’s golf is hungry for bigger visibility and more regular wins on U.S. soil. With major tournaments and the 2025 Solheim Cup on the horizon, her form could not be more encouraging for Team Europe.
England’s Bronte Law also made a solid showing, tying for seventh at 12-under. It’s a reminder that the European contingent still has depth — and veterans like Ciganda can still inspire the next generation.
What Comes Next?
With this win, Ciganda not only breaks a nine-year dry spell but reinserts herself into conversations about consistency, longevity, and international excellence. Could this be the start of a late-career resurgence?
If Sunday’s performance is anything to go by, don’t count her out. Not now.
And to those who had stopped watching her closely — was this the comeback you never saw coming?
Written By Joe Brens
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