2 months ago
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Aussie golfer Grace Kim produced an insane moment of magic on her way to winning her first major and the Amundi Evian Championship on Sunday afternoon in France.
It was a drama-filled day at the Evian Resort Golf Club, with Kim chipping in during the first hole of her play-off decider against five-time LPGA Tour winner Atthaya 'Jeeno' Thitikul, before going on to clinch victory.
Kim was outstanding throughout the week, producing a final round of 67 to put herself just two shots off the lead coming down the fairway on the 18th.
She'd send her approach shot to within just five feet of the hole and tapped in for an eagle to leapfrog British amateur, Lottie Woad, and book a play-off against Thitikul.
Kim came out firing in the decider, stunning her opponent and the crowd in Evian by chipping in from around 40 yards out to card a birdie on the first play-off hole.
With tensions high, Thitikul, who had been imperious all weekend, carding 68, 68, 67, 67, to hold the lead coming into the final hole, made a difficult birdie putt to send the play-off to a second hole.
But fatigue set in. Thitikul was errant with her approach on the par five 18th second play-off hole, with Kim grasping her opportunity with both hands.
The Aussie, who has won just once on the LPGA Tour and whose highest finish in a major came in the 2023 US Open (T13), clinically rolled in a 15-foot eagle put to clinch victory.
Earlier in the day, British amateur Lottie Woad set the clubhouse lead, after posting a 64, the second-lowest round of the day behind Yin Angel's 63.
The Augusta National Women's Amateur champion placed T3 on the leaderboard with Aussie Minjee Lee. The duo agonisingly just missed out on the play-off by a shot, wrapping up their weekend at 13-under par.
The 21-year-old would have been the first amateur to have won a major since Catherine Lacoste of France won the US Open title in 1967.
'It was really fun,' Woad said after her round.
'I knew starting the day I was only five off and I wanted to have a quick start and I did, and it was really fun after that.
Woad found herself three under after the first four holes and it was here that she believed she might have a chance at winning the tournament.
Woad also opened up on when she'll take up a permanent membership on the LPGA Tour.
Woad needed two points in the LPGA Elite Amateur Pathway program to secure a card on the LPGA Tour.
But by making the cut with a 68 and a 69 she claimed her 19th point of the season. Her T3 finish saw her clinch the 20th point of the season.
On whether she would take membership now or defer until next year, Woad said: 'Not sure about that, I'm just going to take the next week and discuss it with my family and coaches and then I'll make a decision after that.'
More to follow....
