South Korea’s A Lim Kim equalled the biggest final round comeback in the history of the US Women’s Open when she birdied her last three holes to capture her first Major title at Champions Golf Club in Houston.

Making her debut in the Championship, the 25-year-old world number 94 hit stellar iron shots at the 16th, 17th and 18th and converted three putts of between 18 inches and seven feet to card a four-under 67 on the Cypress Creek Course and win by one stroke from compatriot Jin Young Ko and American Amy Olson on three-under par.

Kim started the final round five strokes adrift of 2019 AIG Women’s Open champion Hinako Shibuno of Japan on one-over after the event spilled into Monday due to a weather delay.

Defying cold condition, she birdied the fifth, sixth and eighth to get to two-under, then recovered from bogeys at the 10th and 11th with a hat-trick of birdies to set the target at three-under as Ko birdied the 16th and 18th to finish a shot behind after a 68.

Olson, whose father in law passed away unexpectedly on Saturday night, was a shot behind on two-under heading down the stretch as she chased her maiden win.

But needing a birdie to force a playoff, she bogeyed the 16th before finishing with a birdie to tie for second with a one-over 72.

Overnight leader Shibuno was the only other player under par, finishing fourth on one-under after a 74 while Texan Kaitlyn Papp was the low amateur, tied ninth on three-over after a 74.

Kim became the 10th different Korean to claim the Harton S. Semple Trophy since Pak’s breakthrough moment 22 years ago at Blackwolf Run. That win also came on a Monday, in what became a 20-hole playoff victory over amateur Jenny Chuasiriporn.

Kim also became the third Korean in the last 15 years to win the oldest major championship in women’s golf in her first start, joining Birdie Kim (2005) and In Gee Chun (2015). Only two others – Patty Berg in the inaugural event in 1946 and Kathy Cornelius 10 years later – had managed to win this title in their first start. In fact, this was Kim’s first-ever competition in the United States and her first women’s major.

When the result became official, defending champion Jeongeun Lee6 and another Korean competitor gave the new winner a celebratory shower in the Player Hospitality tent.

“Can't really describe it in words,” said Kim through a translator. “I never expected that I was going to appear in the U.S. Women's Open. I still can't feel what it's like right now, but I'll probably feel it when the ceremony and everything wraps up today.”

The championship had to be completed on Monday due to nearly three-quarters of an inch of rain that saturated the Cypress Creek Course on Sunday. Only twice before had a non-playoff round of the U.S. Women’s Open been completed on a Monday: 1987 at Plainfield Country Club, where a Tuesday 18-hole playoff was required, and 2011 at The Broadmoor, where fellow Korean, So Yeon Ryu, prevailed in a three-hole aggregate playoff over compatriot Hee Kyung Seo.

With temperatures hovering in the 40s and a wind chill that felt like the mid-30s, players arrived at Champions Golf Club dressed more for a day on the ski slopes. Many competitors donned wool caps, wore earmuffs and used gloves to keep their hands warm. Some even put on parkas in between shots.

Kim covered her face with a mask all week to protect herself and others from COVID-19, the virus that forced the U.S. Women’s Open to be moved from June to December and kept fans from enjoying the competition in person.

Starting the round five strokes behind Shibuno in a tie for ninth, Kim played most of the final round in relative anonymity. The television broadcast mostly focused on the trio of Shibuno, the affable 22-year-old from Japan nicknamed the “Smiling Cinderella” after shocking the golf world 16 months ago with her AIG Women’s British Open victory at Woburn Golf Club in England; 2009 U.S. Girls’ Junior champion Olson, who was looking for her first professional win; and Moriya Jutanugarn, the 26-year-old from Thailand who was seeking to join younger sister Ariya as a U.S. Women’s Open champion.

Shibuno was the first to blink, relinquishing her lead to Olson when she bogeyed the par-4 10th hole.

Olson appeared ready to take the title. Playing with a heavy heart, the Fargo, N.D., native found out late Saturday night that her father-in-law, Lee Olson, had suddenly passed away. Her husband, Grant, an assistant football coach at her alma mater, North Dakota State, was en route to Texas to watch Amy when the couple received the news. Olson played through the wrenching circumstances, keeping calm throughout the round. 

But she couldn’t convert birdie opportunities to build on what was at one point a two-stroke lead. A bogey caused by overshooting the green with her hybrid tee shot on the par-3 16th effectively ended her title holes. Olson and Shibuno both converted birdie putts on the 72nd hole, the former to get within one of Kim and the latter to finish two back.

“Obviously super mixed emotions,” said Olson, who was vying to become the seventh player in history to add the U.S. Women’s Open to her U.S. Girls’ Junior title. “It was a long day yesterday not being able to play, but I did get some good rest. Coming out this morning I had no idea what to expect. It was just one of those things I felt very weak and helpless the last couple days, and probably same way today on the golf course. I really believe the Lord just carried me through. It just makes you realize how much bigger life is than golf.”

Jutanugarn struggled most of the day, shooting a 3-over 74 to share sixth. 

Kim stood at even par for the championship when she arrived at the 178-yard 16th hole. She proceeded to execute three of the most beautiful iron shots that this championship has witnessed in a closing stretch. Her 5-iron tee shot on 16 stopped 4 feet from the hole. On the 393-yard, par-4 17th, her 8-iron approach stopped 18 inches from the flagstick and on the 381-yard closing hole, she knocked her 48-degree wedge from the fairway to 7 feet. 

When the final birdie putt dropped, an emotional Kim pumped her fist, almost assured that her closing stretch sealed the victory. She is the last player to birdie the final hole to win the U.S. Women’s Open since Eun-Hee Ji of Korea in 2009 at Saucon Valley Country Club.

“It took some time for me to get used to the bermudagrass, especially hitting the irons off the grass,” said Kim through a translator. “You really need some kind of skill, different style of swing in order to hit the ball out of [this grass]. But love this golf course, love this environment. I even said earlier I want to actually put a tent up here and stay a few more days.” 

Now she will return to golf-crazy Korea with the beautiful silver trophy, a larger bank account and the latest golf celebrity, mask or no mask.
 

What the Champion Receives

• Custody of the Harton S. Semple Trophy until the 2021 U.S. Women’s Open in June (winner receives a permanent replica)

• The gold Mickey Wright Medal

• Exemption from qualifying for the next 10 U.S. Women’s Opens

• Exemptions into the other four women’s major championships for the next five years: ANA Inspiration; KPMG Women’s PGA Championship; AIG Women’s British Open; The Evian Championship

• A two-year exemption on the LPGA Tour as a non-member

• $1 million first-place check

Notable

• The top 10 scorers and ties earned an exemption into the 2021 U.S. Women’s Open at The Olympic Club in San Francisco, Calif., June 3-6.

• Kim’s strokes gained of 7.43 was the second-best in a final round by a U.S. Women’s Open champion. Meg Mallon, who shot a 65 to win the 2004 title, owns the best mark of 7.88.

• Kim is the third Korean to win a women’s major championship in 2020, joining Mirim Lee (Ana Inspiration) and Sei Young Kim (KPMG Women’s PGA Championship). All four major champions – The Evian Championship was not conducted – in 2020 were first-time winners. Sophia Popov, of Germany, kicked off the year by taking the Women’s British Open as the No. 304-ranked player in the world.

• Jeongeun Lee6 concluded her title defense on Monday with an even-par 71 to finish tied for sixth. It’s the best result by a defending champion since Juli Inkster finished eighth in 2003 at Pumpkin Ridge.

• A closing birdie gave University of Texas All-American Kaitlyn Papp low-amateur honors by two strokes over 2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur champion Gabriela Ruffels and Maja Stark, of Sweden. Papp started the day tied for fifth, four strokes off the lead. She closed with a 3-over 74 to finish tied for ninth and an exemption into the 2021 U.S. Women’s Open at The Olympic Club next June.

• Two-time champion Inbee Park (2008, 2013) recorded her 24th sub-par round in a U.S. Women’s Open with a 3-under 68, matching the all-time record held by Beth Daniel and Betsy King. Park achieved it in just 14 starts. It took King 26 (she played in 31) and Daniel 28 (29 starts overall) to post those numbers. Park went from a share of 33rd to a tie for sixth.

• Eri Okayama’s outward nine included five birdies, three bogeys and a par. The five birdies were the most recorded on any nine on the Cypress Creek Course the entire championship.
  
  

Quotable

“I got a lot of text messages from my family and friends how well I played. They were cheering for me overseas. I actually came to winter training [in Palm Springs, Calif.] four years ago. That was my first time in the U.S., and this is the second time, and first time playing in an overseas tournament.” – A Lim Kim after winning in her first competitive event in the U.S. 

“Every time I practice I usually wear a mask, so I'm kind of used to it. I don't want to affect other people, players, a caddie that's playing within the group, so that's the reason I wear the mask throughout the round.” – Kim on wearing a mask all week 

“I really miss Korean food right now, so I'll probably have good Korean food with my family.” – Kim on how she plans on celebrating during her mandatory 14-day quarantine upon returning to Korea

“We had a really special relationship. He's a big, tough, military West Point guy, loved the Army, but had a particular soft spot for the women in his life, particularly his wife and daughter-in-law. And just incredibly generous. Loved to hunt and fish, and we'll have a lot of great memories to take from those activities with him.” – Amy Olson on the passing of her father-in-law on Saturday night 

“This week is my best finish at the U.S. Open, so I can play next week as well. I'm really thankful. This season is too tough with coronavirus, so I want to say thanks to USGA and all the volunteers.” – world No. 1 Jin Young Ko after finishing tied for second and earning a spot in next week’s season-ending LPGA Tour event in Naples, Fla.

“I'm really honored. This year the group of ams in the field was really strong, and so to be low amateur in that group really means a lot.” – Kaitlyn Papp after tying for ninth and besting the six amateurs who made the 36-hole cut 

“I played just over 12 holes today and it was definitely a little different condition. It was colder, balls were going a lot shorter and it was tough out there. But I'm just really happy that I was able to finally conquer this golf course.” – two-time champion Inbee Park on shooting a 3-under 68 

“We had a [LPGA] tournament at Lake Merced and I know someone who's a member at [The] Olympic Club, and he offered to take us out there. I was like, no, I want to go there when the Open is there. I always tell him I'm holding off for the Open there, so I'm super ecstatic. [I look] forward to any USGA event.” – Megan Khang, who finished fifth to earn an exemption into the 2021 U.S. Women’s Open  

“I guess I was pretty in the moment, I didn't even realise I had six birdies.” – 2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur champion Gabriela Ruffels after shooting a1-under 70 to finish T-13.

“It's been great. I have never played a major before, so I'm really happy that I got the chance. I'd been kind of doubting myself because I've never played against these players with this capacity, so I was really happy about it.” – amateur Maja Stark after tying for 13th.

Houston, Texas – Round 4 results of the 75th U.S. Women’s Open Championship played at Champions Golf Club on the Cypress Creek Course (CC) Par-71 / Yards-6,731.

POS,NAME,OFFICIAL MONEY,SCORES-TOTAL,STATUS
1, A Lim Kim,$1,000,000,68 JR-74 CC-72 CC-67 CC-281,-3
T2, Jin Young Ko,$487,286,73 CC-70 JR-71 CC-68 CC-282,-2
T2, Amy Olson,$487,286,67 CC-72 JR-71 CC-72 CC-282,-2
4, Hinako Shibuno,$266,779,68 CC-67 JR-74 CC-74 CC-283,-1
5, Megan Khang,$222,201,70 JR-69 CC-74 CC-72 CC-285,+1
T6, Inbee Park,$177,909,71 JR-72 CC-75 CC-68 CC-286,+2
T6, Jeongeun Lee6,$177,909,73 CC-69 JR-73 CC-71 CC-286,+2
T6, Moriya Jutanugarn,$177,909,68 JR-72 CC-72 CC-74 CC-286,+2
T9, Ariya Jutanugarn,$143,976,70 JR-70 CC-74 CC-73 CC-287,+3
T9, Kaitlyn Papp (a),$0,71 JR-68 CC-74 CC-74 CC-287,+3
T11, Sayaka Takahashi,$126,465,73 JR-72 CC-72 CC-71 CC-288,+4
T11, Minyoung2 Lee,$126,465,74 CC-68 JR-76 CC-70 CC-288,+4
T13, Yuka Saso,$96,800,69 CC-71 JR-77 CC-72 CC-289,+5
T13, Eri Okayama,$96,800,76 JR-69 CC-72 CC-72 CC-289,+5
T13, Gabriela Ruffels (a),$0,71 CC-72 JR-76 CC-70 CC-289,+5
T13, Linnea Strom,$96,800,69 JR-75 CC-73 CC-72 CC-289,+5
T13, Maja Stark (a),$0,70 JR-72 CC-73 CC-74 CC-289,+5
T13, Hae Ran Ryu,$96,800,72 JR-72 CC-70 CC-75 CC-289,+5
T13, Lydia Ko,$96,800,71 JR-70 CC-72 CC-76 CC-289,+5
T20, So Yeon Ryu,$74,219,72 JR-73 CC-73 CC-72 CC-290,+6
T20, Sei Young Kim,$74,219,72 JR-69 CC-73 CC-76 CC-290,+6
T20, Ally Ewing,$74,219,73 JR-72 CC-76 CC-69 CC-290,+6
T23, Linn Grant (a),$0,69 CC-69 JR-78 CC-75 CC-291,+7
T23, Sarah Schmelzel,$55,526,71 CC-69 JR-76 CC-75 CC-291,+7
T23, Nasa Hataoka,$55,526,71 JR-73 CC-75 CC-72 CC-291,+7
T23, Jenny Shin,$55,526,72 CC-70 JR-77 CC-72 CC-291,+7
T23, Jessica Korda,$55,526,72 CC-73 JR-74 CC-72 CC-291,+7
T23, Cristie Kerr,$55,526,71 JR-69 CC-74 CC-77 CC-291,+7
T23,  Chella Choi,$55,526,73 JR-72 CC-75 CC-71 CC-291,+7
T30, Madelene Sagstrom,$36,915,74 JR-71 CC-72 CC-75 CC-292,+8
T30, Lauren Stephenson,$36,915,72 JR-72 CC-74 CC-74 CC-292,+8
T30, Jennifer Kupcho,$36,915,70 JR-72 CC-75 CC-75 CC-292,+8
T30, Hyejin Choi,$36,915,70 JR-73 CC-76 CC-73 CC-292,+8
T30, Bronte Law,$36,915,73 JR-72 CC-71 CC-76 CC-292,+8
T30, Cheyenne Knight,$36,915,75 CC-69 JR-72 CC-76 CC-292,+8
T30, Ashleigh Buhai,$36,915,71 CC-69 JR-79 CC-73 CC-292,+8
T30, Ingrid Lindblad (a),$0,72 CC-69 JR-74 CC-77 CC-292,+8
T30, Charley Hull,$36,915,69 JR-73 CC-78 CC-72 CC-292,+8
T30, Ji Yeong Kim2,$36,915,75 CC-70 JR-67 CC-80 CC-292,+8
T40, Hannah Green,$27,067,72 CC-73 JR-73 CC-75 CC-293,+9
T40, Perrine Delacour,$27,067,72 CC-71 JR-73 CC-77 CC-293,+9
T40, Sophia Popov,$27,067,69 CC-76 JR-75 CC-73 CC-293,+9
T40, Yealimi Noh,$27,067,72 CC-69 JR-72 CC-80 CC-293,+9
T44, Stacy Lewis,$23,576,72 CC-68 JR-77 CC-77 CC-294,+10
T44, Brooke Henderson,$23,576,72 JR-73 CC-77 CC-72 CC-294,+10
T46, Brittany Lincicome,$19,570,70 JR-75 CC-73 CC-77 CC-295,+11
T46, Pauline Roussin-Bouchard (a),$0,70 CC-72 JR-75 CC-78 CC-295,+11
T46, Lizette Salas,$19,570,72 JR-69 CC-75 CC-79 CC-295,+11
T46, Lindsey Weaver,$19,570,70 JR-70 CC-75 CC-80 CC-295,+11
T46, Gaby Lopez,$19,570,74 CC-71 JR-74 CC-76 CC-295,+11
T46, Minjee Lee,$19,570,74 JR-71 CC-75 CC-75 CC-295,+11
T52, Seon Woo Bae,$15,736,75 CC-68 JR-76 CC-77 CC-296,+12
T52, Danielle Kang,$15,736,72 CC-71 JR-79 CC-74 CC-296,+12
T54, Anna Nordqvist,$13,447,73 CC-71 JR-75 CC-78 CC-297,+13
T54, Azahara Munoz,$13,447,71 CC-70 JR-78 CC-78 CC-297,+13
T54, Mone Inami,$13,447,73 JR-71 CC-76 CC-77 CC-297,+13
T54, Jennifer Song,$13,447,77 CC-68 JR-76 CC-76 CC-297,+13
T58, Pernilla Lindberg,$12,360,74 CC-70 JR-75 CC-79 CC-298,+14
T58, Mi Hyang Lee,$12,360,72 JR-73 CC-79 CC-74 CC-298,+14
60, Yui Kawamoto,$12,131,73 JR-72 CC-74 CC-80 CC-299,+15
T61, Mamiko Higa,$11,960,73 CC-72 JR-75 CC-80 CC-300,+16
T61, Mina Harigae,$11,960,70 JR-74 CC-77 CC-79 CC-300,+16
T63, Jodi Ewart Shadoff,$11,731,70 CC-72 JR-79 CC-80 CC-301,+17
T63, Narin An,$11,731,72 CC-72 JR-79 CC-78 CC-301,+17
65, Kana Mikashima,$11,559,75 CC-69 JR-80 CC-79 CC-303,+19
66, Su Oh,$11,445,75 CC-70 JR-78 CC-81 CC-304,+20

Failed to Qualify

Brittany Lang,$4,000,73 CC-73 JR-146,CUT
Sarah Jane Smith,$4,000,76 CC-70 JR-146,CUT
Mi-Jeong Jeon,$4,000,72 JR-74 CC-146,CUT
Amelia Garvey (a),$0,70 CC-76 JR-146,CUT
Eun Hee Ji,$4,000,74 JR-72 CC-146,CUT
Rose Zhang (a),$0,73 JR-73 CC-146,CUT
Celine Boutier,$4,000,73 JR-73 CC-146,CUT
Austin Ernst,$4,000,75 JR-71 CC-146,CUT
Carlota Ciganda,$4,000,71 CC-75 JR-146,CUT
In Gee Chun,$4,000,76 JR-70 CC-146,CUT
Nelly Korda,$4,000,73 CC-73 JR-146,CUT
Anne van Dam,$4,000,73 JR-73 CC-146,CUT
Maria Fernanda Torres,$4,000,75 CC-71 JR-146,CUT
Alena Sharp,$4,000,75 CC-71 JR-146,CUT
Marianne Skarpnord,$4,000,76 JR-71 CC-147,CUT
Agathe Laisne (a),$0,77 CC-70 JR-147,CUT
Cydney Clanton,$4,000,74 JR-73 CC-147,CUT
Jing Yan,$4,000,74 CC-73 JR-147,CUT
Nanna Koerstz Madsen,$4,000,75 JR-72 CC-147,CUT
Momoko Ueda,$4,000,74 JR-73 CC-147,CUT
Minami Katsu,$4,000,74 CC-73 JR-147,CUT
Teresa Lu,$4,000,73 JR-74 CC-147,CUT
Patty Tavatanakit,$4,000,69 JR-78 CC-147,CUT
Emily Kristine Pedersen,$4,000,75 CC-72 JR-147,CUT
Brittany Altomare,$4,000,71 JR-76 CC-147,CUT
Lexi Thompson,$4,000,74 CC-73 JR-147,CUT
Bianca Pagdanganan,$4,000,72 JR-75 CC-147,CUT
Ryann O'Toole,$4,000,73 CC-74 JR-147,CUT
Yuna Nishimura,$4,000,73 JR-75 CC-148,CUT
Pajaree Anannarukarn,$4,000,76 CC-72 JR-148,CUT
Gerina Piller,$4,000,69 JR-79 CC-148,CUT
Angel Yin,$4,000,75 CC-73 JR-148,CUT
Sung Hyun Park,$4,000,70 JR-78 CC-148,CUT
Mirim Lee,$4,000,74 JR-74 CC-148,CUT
Ayaka Watanabe,$4,000,77 CC-71 JR-148,CUT
Pornanong Phatlum,$4,000,76 JR-73 CC-149,CUT
Caroline Masson,$4,000,71 JR-78 CC-149,CUT
Olivia Mehaffey (a),$0,77 JR-72 CC-149,CUT
Auston Kim (a),$0,75 JR-74 CC-149,CUT
Katherine Kirk,$4,000,75 CC-74 JR-149,CUT
Fatima Fernandez Cano,$4,000,79 JR-70 CC-149,CUT
Xiyu Lin,$4,000,76 CC-73 JR-149,CUT
Georgia Hall,$4,000,81 CC-68 JR-149,CUT
Mel Reid,$4,000,75 JR-74 CC-149,CUT
Jasmine Suwannapura,$4,000,76 CC-73 JR-149,CUT
Saki Asai,$4,000,76 JR-73 CC-149,CUT
Kelly Tan,$4,000,75 CC-75 JR-150,CUT
Meghan MacLaren,$4,000,77 CC-73 JR-150,CUT
Esther Henseleit,$4,000,76 CC-74 JR-150,CUT
Ayaka Furue,$4,000,76 CC-74 JR-150,CUT
Lala Anai,$4,000,78 CC-72 JR-150,CUT
Yu Jin Sung,$4,000,76 CC-74 JR-150,CUT
Beatrice Wallin (a),$0,75 JR-75 CC-150,CUT
Yu Liu,$4,000,76 JR-75 CC-151,CUT
Annie Park,$4,000,76 JR-75 CC-151,CUT
Benedetta Moresco (a),$0,80 CC-71 JR-151,CUT
Caroline Hedwall,$4,000,76 JR-75 CC-151,CUT
Caterina Don (a),$0,77 CC-74 JR-151,CUT
Emilia Migliaccio (a),$0,74 JR-77 CC-151,CUT
Morgan Pressel,$4,000,73 CC-78 JR-151,CUT
Nuria Iturrioz,$4,000,71 JR-80 CC-151,CUT
Lucie Malchirand (a),$0,75 CC-76 JR-151,CUT
Nicole Broch Larsen,$4,000,77 CC-75 JR-152,CUT
Sakura Koiwai,$4,000,77 JR-75 CC-152,CUT
Ana Belac,$4,000,76 CC-76 JR-152,CUT
Emma Spitz (a),$0,75 JR-77 CC-152,CUT
Asuka Kashiwabara,$4,000,79 JR-74 CC-153,CUT
Heeyoung Park,$4,000,77 CC-76 JR-153,CUT
Angela Stanford,$4,000,80 CC-74 JR-154,CUT
Jaye Marie Green,$4,000,78 CC-76 JR-154,CUT
Jeongeun Lee,$4,000,79 CC-75 JR-154,CUT
Lei Ye (a),$0,77 CC-77 JR-154,CUT
Mi Jung Hur,$4,000,78 CC-78,WD
Amy Yang,$4,000,77 CC-77 JR-154,CUT
Ho-Yu An (a),$0,78 JR-76 CC-154,CUT
Frida Kinhult,$4,000,78 JR-76 CC-154,CUT
Allisen Corpuz (a),$0,78 CC-76 JR-154,CUT
Christina Kim,$4,000,81 CC-74 JR-155,CUT
Heejeong Lim,$4,000,77 CC-78 JR-155,CUT
Kristen Gillman,$4,000,79 JR-77 CC-156,CUT
Janie Jackson,$4,000,74 JR-82 CC-156,CUT
Lily May Humphreys (a),$0,75 JR-81 CC-156,CUT
Ina Kim-Schaad (a),$0,73 JR-83 CC-156,CUT
Kim Kaufman,$4,000,78 CC-79 JR-157,CUT
Maria Fassi,$4,000,83 JR-74 CC-157,CUT
Christine Wolf,$4,000,77 JR-80 CC-157,CUT
Erika Hara,$4,000,83 JR-78 CC-161,CUT
Alessia Nobilio (a),$0,81 JR-82 CC-163,CUT
Seung Yeon Lee,$4,000,78 CC-85 JR-163,CUT
Emily Toy (a),$0,88 CC-82 JR-170,CUT