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In her big debut, A Lim Kim has become a great champion. The 25-year-old from the Republic of Korea birdied her final three holes at Champions Golf Club’s Cypress Creek course on Monday to climb to -3 and win the 2020 U.S. Women’s Open.
Lim is the seventh player to make a five-stroke comeback in the final round to win the US Women’s Open, and the first since Annika Sorenstam in 1995 at The Broadmoor. She is also the first player since Eun Hee Ji in 2009 to birdie the final hole for a one-shot victory.
Rolex Ranking No. 1 Jin Young Ko and first-round leader Amy Olson, playing with heavy hearts after the sudden death of her father-in-law on Saturday, tied for second at -2, with the leader. from the third round Hinako Shibuno in only third at -1. The final round was completed on Monday after torrential wind and rain on Sunday caused the USGA to suspend play due to field conditions and dangerous weather conditions.
Kim’s victory came in his first major championship appearance. With victory, you are eligible to accept immediate membership on the LPGA Tour.
“I am very honored to win the 75th United States Women’s Open. I still can’t assimilate that I’m the champion, but it feels different to win the tournament here, ”said Kim. “Back in Korea, the style and atmosphere are different. But I’m very happy, and through COVID-19 we had a lot of difficulties, but I’m glad the US Women’s Open was held in Houston. It was a great victory. “
Kim started the cold and stormy day with +1, five hits and three groups behind Shibuno. He made the turn at 3-under 33, but dropped shots at 10 and 11 to get back to even. His wave began with a 9-foot birdie at par 3 16, followed by an 8-iron approach marked for a 3-foot birdie at No. 17. He finished his round with a 7-foot birdie at No. 18, scored with a good fist and a blow to the knuckles with his caddy, Daihoun An.
“I’ve been looking at the leaderboard the entire round and I knew how many shots I had,” Kim said. “That’s probably why I tried to hit more aggressively, tried to hit the pins more.”
Olson and Ko birdied the 18th hole to hit a shot before forcing a playoff. Olson played with the hearts of the golf world in his corner, following the unexpected death of his father-in-law, Lee Olson, on Saturday. He used Sunday’s unexpected day off to rest and collect his thoughts as he headed into one of the most pressured rounds of his career.
“Leaving this morning I had no idea what to expect. It was just one of those things, I felt very weak and powerless the last few days, and probably the same thing happened today on the golf course, ”said Olson, who came up short for the third time while playing in the final group in a major. . “I really believe that the Lord just helped me.”
After bogeying three of his first four holes, Olson returned to the court with birdies on the 5 and 6. A successive series of nine consecutive pairs, combined with the faltering field around him, gave Olson a two-point lead. strokes on 12 holes. But at par 3 16, which he pulled off in Thursday’s first round, Olson’s tee shot rolled right off the back of the green into an awkward position and he was unable to convert the rise and fall. He finally struck a long birdie putt at No. 18 to join Ko in a tie for second.
Shibuno, who is looking to become the third player to win majors like her first two LPGA Tour titles, also birdied No. 18 to put a positive finish in a difficult 3-for-74 round. American Megan Khang completed all five first in +1.
