Grace Kim put together one of the greatest comebacks in golf history. With this win she has cemented her name in Australia’s elite female major champions. The fiery young golfer earned his first major victory at last week’s Open Championship, winning by four strokes with a brilliant four-round total of 14-under-par 270. Her final round score of 67 included three eagles and solidified her position as a rising star in the sport.
The tournament played out in a spectacular way, especially in the final championship round. Kim faced a difficult test when she double-bogeyed the 12th hole. This loss threw her so off balance she felt as if she had lost her chance at winning. “I felt like I missed the boat after that,” Kim admitted to reporters. She immediately regained her poise and proved her mettle, bouncing back from a four-shot hole going into the final round.
In a dramatic conclusion, Kim outlasted her closest competitor Minjee Lee by a single stroke. With this win, Kim is Australia’s fifth female major winner. She now joins the upper echelon of torchbearers for the league such as Karrie Webb, Hannah Green and Jan Stephenson. This victory follows close on the heels of Lee’s victory at the Women’s PGA Championship—their third major of the season—only three weeks ago. With this victory, Australia claims its second straight major championship!
During that decisive last round, Kim hit some truly dazzling shots. She even executed a critical birdie chip-in on No. 15 that kept her playoff hopes alive. She finally won it on the second playoff hole as her opponent, Atthaya Thitikul, made a mistake. The emotion was electric as Kim walked up to her shots, but her concentration was laser sharp as she went the distance.
“Just looked straight at the hole. That’s what my caddie told me to do and I did it,” – Kim
Kim’s stunning performance was a testament to her talent and will. It’s a great initiative to showcase the increasing profile of female golfers here in Australia. Her accomplishment imparts a legacy that will continue to amaze and inspire the next generation of young female golfers in this nation.
As she celebrates this major milestone, Kim looks back on her journey with pride. The 2023 Women’s Amateur champion is a four-time winner of Karrie Webb’s scholarship, which helps develop young female golfers with the potential to reach the highest level in the game.
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