USA TODAY International Edition
Kim gets 1st major, wins Women’s PGA
NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. – Sei Young Kim accidentally set her alarm for Sunday morning 30 minutes later than she had intended. Which for a normal Sunday at a major championship wouldn’t be a big deal considering that leaders typically tee off well after lunch.
But this is 2020, and Kim’s 8: 49 a. m. tee time at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship didn’t offer the luxury of sleeping in. A break in the routine didn’t do much to frazzle the third- degree black belt with the long, aggressive game. On a cloudy day at Aronimink Golf Club, nothing could stop a clear- eyed Kim.
The winningest player on tour without a major tore off that descriptor in dramatic fashion, posting a seemingly unthinkable 7- under- par 63 to finish the week at 14- under 266, besting Betsy King’s record from 1992 by one stroke.
Inbee Park, a seven- time major winner, began the day three shots back and posted a flawless 65 yet somehow moved further away from Kim. Five years ago at this championship, Park beat Kim by five shots at Westchester Country Club. The roles were reversed at Aronimink, with Park calling her compatriot untouchable.
“That’s how a champion plays a final round,” said Park, who would know as she’s already in the LPGA Hall of Fame.
Now an 11- time winner on the LPGA, Kim became the 18th South Korean player to win a major since Se Ri Pak broke through at this tournament in 1998. Kim’s dream of winning a major, like so many South Koreans, started with Se Ri, though she admitted on Sunday that she “didn’t know it was going to take this long.”
Since 1998, South Koreans have won 33 major titles, including two this year. Kim follows ANA Inspiration winner Mirim Lee as a first- time major winner.
“I’m so excited,” said Kim as she stood beside the hefty hardware. “I’m actually really hiding my tears at the moment.”
It was around 3: 30 a. m. in South Korea when Kim talked to her father for the first time on a computer near the media flash area. Cameras gathered ’ round to capture the moment. Her parents had already received so many phone calls that they unplugged the house phone.
One of Kim’s parents typically travels with her, but both decided to stay home this year. They checked in throughout the week to make sure she was eating well and driving safely.
At the KPMG, Kim took home a check of $ 645,000 to cap off a dream day, bringing her total career earnings to $ 9,574,895.