Chandler, Arizona, United States: Kim Hyo-joo claimed her seventh LPGA Tour title at the Ford Championship presented by Wild Horse Pass.
The Korean, who first came to prominence in the Queen Sirikit Cup (QSC) as a precocious teenager 15 years ago, edged overnight leader Lilia Vu of the United States in a sudden-death play-off at Whirlwind Golf Club.
On an exciting final day in the Arizonian desert, Kim signed off with a superb eight-under-par 64 for a 22-under 266 total to catch Vu, who shot a closing 68.
On the first play-off hole at the par-four 18th, Kim nailed her 10th birdie of the day from six feet to seal her first LPGA Tour victory since October 2023. Vu had earlier missed a 15-foot birdie attempt.
“It has been a while since the last win. I worked hard in the winter, but it was still a surprise that the win came so quickly,” said Kim, who started the final round four shots behind Vu.
“It feels great. I was just thinking: ‘One hole at a time, one birdie at a time’,” added the 29-year-old, who led her country to three successive Queen Sirikit Cup crowns (2010-2102). For good measure she also won the low individual award in 2010 and 2012 and was runner-up in 2011.
Kim went on to make global headlines in 2014 when she won her first and only Major to date at the Amundi Evian Championship as a non-LPGA member. She joined the LPGA Tour the following season and has amassed more than US$10 million in career earnings, thanks to the US$337,500 cheque she picked up for her latest win.
Vu, who was chasing her sixth LPGA Tour victory, took a lot of positives from her week. The 27-year-old has been struggling with a niggling back injury over the last few years.
“I’m proud that I stuck to my weekly goal. The only goal is to be in tune with my body. This is probably the most I’ve felt like me in the past year-and-a-half,” said the former world number one and two-time Major winner.
American Allisen Corpuz took third place just a shot shy of the play-off after a closing 65, with Thailand’s Atthaya ‘Jeeno’ Thitikul a stroke further back. Both players had been tied for the lead in the early part of the closing nine.
Nelly Korda, the 2024 champion and world number one, finished joint 22nd on 14-under, falling out of contention after a third round 73.
