I.K. 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 tohavesomefun, 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.
MichelleWiewent out in 30 to give Kim something to think about, but the 27-year-old 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.
She was no more than 14 inches away from winning the 2012 Kraft Nabisco Championship for her first major when she clasped her hand over her mouth in disbelief when it spun out of the hole. She lost in a playoff, and itwas a toughmemory to shake. Until Sunday. “I almost cried when I won. Winning is great,” Kim said. “It’s a long process to get over 2012. Alot of people helped me. Now I enjoy playing golf again. What it did teachmeis to to give the same effort to every shot, even the shortest of putts.”
Matsuyama fires record 61
AKRON, Ohio — Hideki Matsuyama has won the Bridgestone Invitational with the lowest final round in four decades at Firestone Country Club.
Matsuyama birdied his last three holes for a 9-under 61 to erase a twoshot deficit and claim his second World Golf Championships title. Matsuyama also won the HSBC Champions last fall in Shanghai.
He tied the course record held by Jose Maria Olazabal, TigerWoods and Sergio Garcia.
Matsuyama stays at No. 3 in the world, though the 25-year-old from Japan takes plenty of momentum — and pressure — into the PGA Championship next week.
He took the lead with his 15-foot birdie putt on the sixth hole, and no one could keep up with him.
Matsuyama and Dustin Johnson have combined to win the last fiveWorld Golf Championships.
Goydos wins in a playoff
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 twoputted 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 wasamonga quartet of golfers finishing four shots back. That group included Kenny Perry, a co-leader withGoydos and Sauers entering the day. He shot 70.