South Korean debutant Kim A Lim has won the US Women’s Open in historic fashion, closing with three straight birdies to tie the record for the largest comeback and win the biggest event in women’s golf.
Key points:
- Kim A Lim is ranked 94th in the world and was competing in her first US Women’s Open
- She started the final round five shots behind leader Hinako Shibuno, who finished fourth
- Gabriela Ruffels was the best of the Australians, finishing 13th
Starting the final round five shots behind at Champions Golf Club in Texas, the 25-year-old wore a heavy down jacket and a mask between shots as she delivered a round of 4-under 67 for a one-shot victory over Amy Olson and world number one Ko Jin-young.
Kim became the seventh player to rally from five shots behind in the final round of the US Women’s Open, and the first since Annika Sorenstam in 1995.
Olson held her own amid the grief of learning her father-in-law died unexpectedly in North Dakota on Saturday night.
She was in tears Sunday morning on the range, before rain pushed the final round to Monday.
Olson, winless in seven years on the LPGA Tour, had a two-shot lead on the back nine after 54-hole leader Hinako Shibuno faltered, but she couldn’t do anything about Kim’s late charge and fell back when her hybrid on the par-3 16th bounded over the green and into thick, brown rough, leading to bogey.
She birdied the final hole for a 72 after 94th-ranked Kim had already secured the title.
Ko, who only recently returned to the tour from South Korea, also birdied the 18th when it was too late to catch Kim.
Ko closed with a 68, one of only six players to break par in the final round. Shibuno closed with a 74 and finished two shots off the lead.
Kim finished at 3-under 281 and won $US1 million ($1.3 million). She added to South Korean dominance of the US Open, the ninth winner in the last 13 years.
Tennis player-turned-golfer Gabriela Ruffels was the best-placed Australian, finishing in a tie for 13th on 5-over.
AP
