29-year old South Korean golfer Hyo Joo Kim won her first major championship in a four-hole playoff. She won the LPGA tournament in Arizona. Kim won her most recent title in dramatic fashion, defeating Lilia Vu on the first playoff hole. She put on a stunning show Sunday, coming back from four shots down. With an amazing 8-under 64 she not only forced a playoff but raised her total score to 22-under 266.
Kim proved that this wasn’t just a lucky shot, winning the Maryland tournament by an impressive 36 strokes. On the day she shot an impressive 31 over the front nine. She added to her early charge with a pair of birdies over the first three holes on the back nine. Her accuracy and game plan stood out throughout the playoff. She couldn’t have scripted her finish any better, holing out to leave herself a closing 6-foot birdie putt that sealed the win.
“The feeling was great today and I just thought one hole at a time, one birdie at a time,” – Kim
This victory is Kim’s seventh title on the LPGA Tour. In her illustrious career, she won 23 times on four different tours in women’s golf. One of her career highlights was a stunningly dominant win at the Ford Championship. Taking the tournament doubled her earnings more than 6x. She earned $337,500 in her first victory, pushing her career earnings on the LPGA Tour over $10 million.
On the last day, Kim’s 18th hole approach bounced over the hard green surface. Proving that coolness isn’t the only thing she has in spades, she chipped to 7 feet and holed the par putt for a brilliant 68. Her resolve and focus, combined with a unique talent for performing under pressure, proved vital to her burden during the championship.
Kim’s victory not only amplifies her previous accolades, but brilliantly underscores Kim’s fight for the sport. Her historic win in Arizona is a testament to her undeniable skill. It speaks to her dominance as one of golf’s all-time greats.
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