Kim holds on to win Women’s British Open
ST. ANDREWS, SCOTLAND » I.K. Kim banished the haunting memory of missing a 14-inch putt to win a major and replaced it with the sweetest sensation.
Finally, she can call herself a major champion.
Staked to a six-shot lead in the Women’s British Open, Kim never led anyone get closer than two shots at Kingsbarns Links and sealed victory with a bold hybrid over the burn to the 17th green. She made nine pars on the back nine and closed with a 1-under 71 for a two-shot victory.
“I cannot describe my feelings,” Kim said. “I just tried to have some fun, but it wasn’t fun on the back nine.”
Jodi Ewart Shadoff made her work for it by charging home with a 64 to put pressure on the 29-year-old South Korean. Kim didn’t falter over an increasingly soggy course, however. She finished at 18-under 270 to capture the $487,500 prize.
Michelle Wie went out in 30 to give Kim something to think about, but the 27-yearold from Hawaii stalled and closed with a 66 to tie for third with Caroline Masson (67) and Georgia Hall (70).
Kim now has won three times, the most by anyone on the LPGA Tour this year, all in the last two months.
But this was the biggest by far.
Matsuyama wins at Firestone with big finish
AKRON, OHIO » Hideki Matsuyama was along for the ride four years ago when he watched Tiger Woods tear apart Firestone Country Club on his way to a 61 in the second round, which tied the South course record and sent Woods to a sevenshot victory in the Invitational.
“I just couldn’t believe that anyone could shoot 61 on this golf course,” Matsuyama said.
He sure didn’t expect that from himself Sunday, especially after warming up so badly that Matsuyama wasn’t sure which the way ball was going. Some four hours later, the 25-year-old Japanese star had a place alongside Woods in the record book.
Matsuyama finished with three straight birdies to cap off a runaway victory with a 9-under 61, giving him his second World Golf Championship in nine month. It was the lowest final round in four decades at venerable Firestone, and it gave Matsuyama a five-shot victory over Zach Johnson.
He finished at 16-under 264 and moved back to the top of the FedEx Cup standings. Bridgestone
Matsuyama found more than just his swing after he left the range. He might have found the game that first elevated him to the elite in golf last fall when he had four victories and two runner-up finishes over six straight tournaments.
Goydos wins 3M Championship on first playoff hole
BLAINE, MINN. » Paul Goydos birdied the first playoff hole Sunday to win the 3M Championship over Gene Sauers.
It is the first PGA Tour Champions win of the season for Goydos and fifth of his career.
Both Goydos and Sauers shot 66 in regulation to get to 20-under 196 at the TPC Twin Cities.
Sauers’ second playoff shot splashed in the lake in front of the 18th green; Goydos cleared the water by less than a yard and two-putted for the win.
Kevin Sutherland shot 64 to tie for third with Steve Stricker (66) and Brandt Jobe (67), two shots back.
Scott Verplank was three back after a 66. Wes Short, Jr. shot a 10-under 62, and was among a quartet of golfers finishing four shots back. That group included Kenny Perry, a co-leader with Goydos and Sauers entering the day. He shot 70.
Stroud wins Barracuda Championship on 2nd playoff hole
RENO, NEV. » Chris Stroud ended more than a decade of futility on the PGA Tour with two of the most important shots of his career.
One was a 5-wood to 5 feet on the final hole of the Barracuda Championship that got him into a playoff. The other was a 5-iron to 12 feet on the par-5 18th hole that made him a PGA Tour winner for the first time in 11 years
“Eleven years I’ve waited for that,” Stroud said when he was introduced as a tour winner. “So it’s a dream come true.”
Not even in the picture for so much of the final round, Stroud rallied over the final six holes at Montreaux Golf and Country Club with three birdies and an eagle to get into a threeman playoff. He won with a two-putt birdie on the second extra hole.
The victory sends Stroud to the PGA Championship next week, the first of many perks. He also gets a twoyear exemption, almost as important as playing a major for a 35-year-old who only had conditional status this year.
He also gets into the Tournament of Champions at Kapalua, the start of the new year reserved only for PGA Tour winners. and 289 tournaments.