Park beats Ryu, Hataoka in playoff to win KPMG
KILDEER, ILL. — Sung Hyun Park raised her arms and placed her hands on her head before hugging her caddie and wiping away tears.
She simply could not contain her emotions after winning her second major golf championship — and doing it in such dramatic fashion.
Park beat So Yeon Ryu on the second hole of a playoff Sunday in the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.
After a brief rain delay on the par-4 16th hole at Kemper Lakes, Ryu’s birdie try rolled past, and Park finished off her South Korean compatriot with a 10-footer.
“Actually, this is my first time feeling this kind of emotion, being this emotional,” Ryu said through an interpreter. “And I was really happy, like, I couldn’t help that.”
Japanese teen Nasa Hataoka, after shooting an 8-under 64 to post at 10 under, dropped out of the playoff with a par on the par-4 18th. Ryu made a 20-footer for birdie from the fringe, and Park followed from 10 feet. Park closed with a 3-under 69. Ryu had a 73. She took a two-stroke lead on the 16th, but hit into the water on the par-3 17th en route to a double bogey.
“Wind just took it really hard to the left, and then it’s in the water hazard,” she said.
“But once again, I did my best. If I look back, nothing I can do any better than that. I just did 100per cent effort every shot, every putt and still, you know, I like looking at the positive side. This is my best finish for this tournament, so hopefully it’s going to keep improving. And one day I want to lift that trophy.”
Canada’s Brooke Henderson, who was second through three rounds, had a disappointing final day of 74, dropping her into a tie for sixth at 6-under 282.