Feng fades as Park surges to win U.S. Women’s Open
BEDMINSTER, New Jersey — After weeks of uncertainty, the U.S. Women’s Open stopped being about U.S. President Donald Trump, his course and his views toward women and it turned out to be what the USGA wanted: a good tournament on a good course.
Not surprisingly, the best player this week won, making up for a bad weekend in this event a year ago. Sung Hyun Park shot her second straight 5-under 67 on Sunday and won a final-round battle with front-running Shanshan Feng and teenage amateur sensation Hye-Jin Choi at Trump National Golf Club for her first LPGA Tour victory.
The 23-year-old Park birdied the 15th to move into a tie for the lead and the 17th to open a twoshot edge after Choi made a double bogey to squander her chance of becoming the second amateur to win the event.
Park finished with an 11-under total of 277, two shots better than Choi, who shot a final-round 71.
It was a far cry from a year ago when Park hit into the water on the 18th hole at CordeValle in California and missed a playoff with eventual winner Britanny Lang and Anna Nordqvist by two shots.
“The experience was definitely worth it, because based on that good experience that I had last year, I think I was able to garner the championship this year,” Park said through an interpreter.
The USGA was criticized for not moving the event from Trump National after comments made by the president about women came to light during the election campaign. There were threats of protests, especially after Trump decided to attend the tournament after his trip to Paris on Thursday and Friday.
Trump arrived Friday and became the first sitting president to attend a Women’s Open, seeing parts of the final three rounds. There was a small protest after he arrived at his box near the 15th green, but it was peaceful.
It ended up being a quiet week of politics at the course. The golf was excellent.
Park needed a fine chip from over the green on the par-5 18th hole to save par and win the $900,000 US top prize.
Walking to the scoring tent to sign her card, she got a thumpsup from Trump from his box.
“Well, to be honest with you, I still cannot believe that it is actually happening,” said Park, who is the leading rookie on the LPGA Tour. “It’s almost feel like I’m floating on a cloud in the sky. Of course, I did have many winnings in other tournaments, but winning here at U.S. Open means so much more.
Choi was the low amateur for the second straight year. She was 38th in 2016. The only drawback was she could not pocket the $540,000 second-place prize.
Top-ranked So Yeon Ryu (70) and fellow South Korean Mi Jung Hur (68) tied for third at 7-under. Feng, from China, had a 75 to drop into a tie for fifth at 6-under with Spain’s Carlota Ciganda (70) and South Korea’s Jeongeun6 Lee (71).
Brooke Henderson (71) of Smiths Falls, Ont., tied for 13th at 3-under.