Sei Young Kim wins 1st major atWomen’s PGA at Aronimink
NEWTOWN SQUARE, PA. » Sei Young Kim shot a sensational 7-under 63 on Sunday to earn her first major title at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.
The 27-year-oldSouthKoreanfinished at 14-under 266 at Aronimink Golf Course, winning themajor that had eluded her so far in her career. Kim had 10 wins entering the tournament, which made her the winningest active player without a major championship.
Her 63 was the best round of the tournament. She finished five shots ahead of runner-up Inbee Park, who shot a solid 65 on Sunday.
“Sei Young was just really untouchable,” Park said.
Kim, a 2016 Olympian, was runner-up at the 2015 KPMG Women’s PGAChampionshipand tied for second at the Evian Championship in 2018. Kim held the 54-hole lead at a major once, at the 2015 ANA Inspiration, where she finished in a tie for fourth.
She sealed the championship with a round to remember at Aronimink. Kim’s fifth birdie of the day at the par-3 14th gave her a fourshot lead over Park and put her at 12 under for the championship.
She earned $645,000 for the victory. Kimhas at least onewin in every LPGA Tour season since 2015.
Nasa Hataoka and Carlota Ciganda tied for third at 7 under. Anna Nordqvist (4 under) and Brooke Henderson (3 under) both played in Kim’s group and finished fifth and sixth.
Kim is the latest addition to a growing list of first-time major winners in recent years, a sign of growing parity. Her victory means nine of the last 10 major champions had never won one before. She joins Sophia Popov (Women’s British Open) and Mirim Lee (ANA Inspiration) as this year’s major champions.