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HOUSTON – A Lim Kim got into trouble after birdying the final three holes for a 67 of three-under that catapulted her to victory Monday at the 75th US Women’s Open.
As Kim sat in front of a big-screen TV in the Champions Club players’ dining room watching the competitors get a chance to see their goal, he fumbled for his phone, which vibrated with messages from family and friends in South Korea. . that he had stayed up all night to watch over her.
The phone fell to the bottom of his golf bag and Kim removed all the clubs to retrieve it as, one after another, his rivals fell by the wayside.
Japan’s Hinako Shibuno, the 54-hole leader, couldn’t catch Kim. Shibuno had held a one-shot lead after Sunday’s final round was postponed due to inclement weather, but on Monday he ran bogey on the penultimate hole and finished fourth on under par with a finish of 74.
Kim’s compatriots Inbee Park and Jin Young Ko, the women’s world No. 1, had the second-lowest score of the day, 68. Ko’s round included birdies on two of the final three holes, a stroke of Kim in two less than 282.
American Amy Olson, who took the solo lead in the final nine in her bid for both her first LPGA win and her big win, tied for second with Ko. Her title hopes were dashed with a bogey at par 3 16, the same hole he had made in the first round.
Olson, 28, was playing after his father-in-law’s sudden death Saturday night from a heart attack, and closed with a birdie for a one over 72. Olson sang bars of Josh Groban’s song “You Raise Me Up “to mask it. pain.
Meanwhile, Kim, 25, provided a perhaps appropriate portrait of a champion from a tournament that was delayed for six months due to the coronavirus pandemic. He won with a covered face on and off the golf course while establishing himself as the class of a course where only four players improved par.
“I’m fine to get positive tests for Covid-19,” Kim said through an interpreter, “but I don’t want to affect other people, players, a caddy who is playing within the group, so that’s the reason why I wear the mask throughout the round. “
Because it took place so late in the year, the US Women’s Open had the rare opportunity to showcase its players in the United States without sharing the stage with a 72-hole PGA Tour event or other US-based events. On a calendar that is usually full during its normal late spring date.
The American Golf Association adopted the hashtag #WomenWorthWatching and some players on the PGA Tour followed suit, much to the bewilderment of the current generation of Asian LPGA stars who have never lacked attention at home. That final round on Monday was televised live in South Korea in the middle of the night says a lot about the popularity of women’s golf in a country where top female golfers are more popular than the men who play on the PGA Tour.
“Yeah, in Korea we definitely get a lot of attention and maybe we don’t need that phrase,” said Park, 32, a former world No. 1 whose last round 68 led her to a triple tie for sixth at two out of 286.
Park, who has 20 LPGA titles, including seven majors, said she is recognized by walking the streets of South Korea or paying the operator at a toll booth while driving.
In Thailand, 26-year-old Moriya Jutanugarn and her younger sister, Ariya, are also striking, as Ariya was the subject of a biopic last year that also featured Moriya. On Monday, Moriya closed with 74 to finish tied for sixth, one stroke ahead of Ariya, a former world No. 1.
In Japan, Shibuno saw her life change rapidly after winning the Women’s British Open last year in her first professional tournament outside of her homeland. “I went from being a normal person to a celebrity overnight,” Shibuno said through an interpreter.
She added, “Once I become a celebrity and in celebrity status, it becomes difficult for me to be myself.”
This was Kim’s debut in the United States and with the victory she becomes the last in a long line of Korean players to conquer women’s golf. Since turning pro as a teenager in 2013, Kim has won twice on her local tour and has become known for its length.
Kim, who is not a member of the LPGA, earned $ 1 million for the victory. She is also eligible for a two-year tour membership, but said she is not sure if she will join in 2021. The decision will likely require several major interruptions in her life.
“I just need more time to think about it,” Kim said.
Golf seemed the easy part for Kim, who took several deep breaths during her press conference to calm herself. “Once I get home,” he said, “I’ll think about it and see.”
