South Korean Kim, 25, finishes strong for third PGA crown
Si Woo Kim birdied two of the final three holes to finish a rocksolid, 8-under 64, coolly rallying past late-charging Patrick Cantlay by one shot to win The American Express Sunday in La Quinta, Calif., for his third PGA Tour victory.
A year after Kim withdrew from the desert tournament because of a back injury after an awful first round, he began the final round with a share of the lead as he attempted to win for the first time since the 2017 Players Championship.
Kim, 25, of South Korea, didn’t flinch when Cantlay shot a 61 and surged out of 13th place to the front while breaking the Stadium Course record by two strokes.
Playing six groups behind Cantlay, Kim comfortably birdied the par-5 16th to pull even. Kim then buried a 19-foot birdie putt on the island green on the 17th to take the lead, joyously pumping his fist when his perfectly paced putt dropped.
Kim wrapped up his third bogeyfree round of the tournament — all on the Pete Dye-designed Stadium Course — with a two-putt par on the 18th to finish at 23-under 265.
Kim had a much better time than he did a year ago in his return to the Palm Springs-area tournament long hosted by Bob Hope. A year ago, Kim shot a 15-over 87 in the opening round on the easier neighboring Nicklaus Course before withdrawing.
Australia’s Cameron Davis shot a 64 to finish in a career-best third at 20 under. Tony Finau had a 68 and finished fourth after starting the final round with a share of the lead in his quest to land his longawaited second PGA Tour win.
Hatton wins
Englishman Tyrrell Hatton won the European Tour’s season -opening Abu Dhabi Championship in United Arab Emirates by four strokes after overnight leader Rory McIlroy faded. Hatton shot a 6-under 66 to finish at 18-under 270. It was his sixth tour title.
Korda prevails
Jessica Korda closed with a 5-under 66 and holed a 30-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole to beat Danielle Kang (68) in the Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., and start the LPGA Tour season on a good note. Korda won for the sixth time on the LPGA Tour, and it was her first victory in nearly three years.