A new queen is crowned
JIM BLACK Kim keeps cool to lift Open title
WHAT looked like being a stroll in the rain for South Korean InKyung Kim turned into a Kingsbarns classic when England’s Jodi Ewart Shadoff threw down the gauntlet at the Ricoh Women’s British Open yesterday.
Kim, 29, set out with a six-shot cushion and quickly increased it by one when she birdied the first.
But Shadoff refused to allow Kim to have it all her own way in her 47th attempt to win a major and a third LPGA title in as many months.
She must also have been heartened by the fact that the previous time Kim had one hand on a major she let it slip from her grasp.
That was in 2012, when she had a putt from one foot to win the ANA Inspiration and failed to convert it, eventually losing to compatriot Sun-Young Yoo in a play-off.
And, having turned for home in 31, Shadoff, the daughter of a former jockey and race horse trainer, collected two more birdies at ten and 13 after Kim bogied the ninth — her first dropped shot for 44 holes.
That rare mistake gave 29-year-old Shadoff renewed hope and she racked up the pressure at the penultimate hole to further eat into Kim’s advantage.
A brilliant second shot set up a five-foot birdie and paved the way for Shadoff to match Michelle Wie’s and Inbee Park’s course-record 64s in the first and third rounds.
And, after closing with a 71 for an 18-under-par total, Kim said: ‘I feel uplifted. I didn’t expect to win this week, so I think I did quite well.
‘It was hard today with the pin positions at the back, but when I looked at the scoreboards all the way round and saw what was happening it encouraged me to go for birdie opportunities.
‘Playing last week at the Ladies Scottish Open in 40mph winds and rain every day prepared me for this. Winning here so close to St Andrews is quite an experience.’
Kim also revealed that she prepared for her moment of glory by waking at 4.30am and taking photographs of the sunrise.
She added: ‘Later, I went shopping and bought hats for my dad and his friends, so it was quite an easy morning.’
While Shadoff was doing her level best to rain on Kim’s parade, Wie also offered a brief challenge when she closed to within four shots of the lead.
The American turned in 30 after bagging six birdies on the front nine, including four in a row from the fourth, but she was unable to maintain her charge, finally settling for a 66 and a 13-under tally in a share of third.
After starting nine behind, it was a superb effort by Shadoff, but with Kim still two ahead with three to play it wasn’t quite enough to rewrite the script and deny the Korean a winner’s cheque for £387,966.
Shadoff said: ‘I tried to stay away from the scoreboard and remain in the moment, hitting as many good shots as I could.
‘Starting the day, I didn’t think I would have a shot because she was so far ahead.
‘But I started out really strong and then had a great stretch in the middle of the round to get me going.’
Sally Watson — the only Scot from seven starters to survive the cut — bid farewell to tournament golf to focus on acquiring a business degree at Chicago University by signing for a 76 to finish four over.
The 26-year-old, from Elie, said: ‘I tried to drink it all in down the 18th and I got a little emotional standing on the tee, but my parents were more emotional than me, I think.
‘It seems sort of final, but never say never. I’ll maybe try to qualify for British Opens and US Opens in future, but if you are not playing full-time it’s unrealistic to confidently predict you could do it.’
England’s Sophie Lamb won the Salver presented to the leading amateur who plays all four rounds with a closing 69 to finish six-under, three ahead of her closest rival, Ireland’s Leona Maguire.