She was unflinching. Playing to score the first major victory of her career, Sei Young Kim marched to a memorable Women’s PGA Championship victory with monk like calm. There was no sign of the burden she has carried as a prolific champion without a major to her name. The 27-year-old showed great maturity on Sunday as chipped away with remarkable certainty to clinch a four-stroke victory over Inbee Park, a seven-time major champion. Kim shut the door any lingering aspirations for her opponents with a stunning string of four birdies in five holes on the finishing stretch.
The Korean was spotless too, producing birdies at the third, sixth and ninth holes to run past the bend, comfortably ahead of the field. It hasn’t always been comfortable this week for the 10-time LPGA winner. After starting the week with a bogey strapped 71 in the opening round, Kim took wings with a 65 on Friday, despite two more bogeys.
On Saturday, Kim finished with a third bogey on her card, but still managed to score 67 and gain a two-stroke advantage over the field. She was intent on making this her week and went about her business with clinical efficiency on Sunday.
Kim made three pars from the tenth before tightening her grip on the championship with a burst of birdies that left commentators dropping their jaws in amazement.
Park finished strong, with a 65 in the final round, including a birdie at the 17th hole. But it did not matter as Kim was barely flinching in the group behind her. A little earlier, Nasa Hataoka showcased her credentials as a formidable golfer with a stunning 64 to tie in third with Carlota Ciganda. The Spaniard made a 65 in the final round.
But none of those excellent rounds of golf mattered the least. Kim was irrepressible. She produced accuracy off the tee and laser sharp irons to stay on target all day. Kim shot 63, better than all of her competitors for a comfortable five-stroke victory over Park.
Kim was spotless in the final round. She picked just the right day to go bogey-free after conceding nine through the first three rounds. The Korean has 52 top-10s and ten LPGA victories, but this was her first major title and a much deserved one too.
The 63 she scored today emulates Lydia Ko’s 63 in the 2015 Evian Championship. With the Evian Championship this year postponed to 2021, the last of the women’s majors will come in the first week of December when they play the Women’s US Open.
