Lilia Vu returns from injury and beats Lexi Thompson. For the second successful time,

Playing for the first time since the Ford Championship in late March in Arizona, Vu beat Thompson and third-round leader Grace Kim with a 5-foot birdie putt on the third extra hole — the par-5 fourth at tree-lined Blythefield Country Club.

A former No. 1 player and double major winner last year, Vu won for the fifth time on the LPGA Tour.

“I think this is the most meaningful win, because there was a time two months ago where I was just crying on the range not being sure if I would every play a tournament again without pain,” Vu said. “Like to be here today, it’s just incredible.”

Thompson, the 2015 winner, has said this will be her last year playing a full schedule. She won the last of her 11 LPGA Tour titles at the ShopRite LPGA Classic in June 2019.

It was an amazing day out there,” Thompson said. “The golf is one thing, but just to be able to play in front of all amazing fans, especially coming down the stretch and on the playoff holes. I don’t think I’ve heard cheers like that unless it’s like Solheim Cup.”

Vu birdied the par-5 18th in regulation for a 7-under 65, then twice more to match Thompson and Kim — who entered the day five strokes ahead of Thompson and eight clear of Vu — on the first two playoff holes.

“I wasn’t thinking about winning,” Vu said. “I was thinking about shooting 8 under to make top 10.”

On the deciding hole, the 27-year-old former UCLA star hit her second shot into the bunker to the right of the green and blasted out to set up the birdie. Thompson and Kim missed long birdie tries after laying up following errant drives.

“Ended up in the bunker and made up-and-down, and somehow I’m here with the trophy,” Vu said.

Vu birdied four of the last six holes in regulation to match Thomson and Kim at 16-under 272.

“Obviously, coming back from an injury I was a little up in the air not knowing my swing,” Vu said. “I was just trying to make contact today. That’s it.