U.S. Women’s Open 1 U.S. Women’s Open Championship 76th Record Book 2021 2 U.S. Women’s Open A Lim Kim Wins the 2020 Championship Two years ago, A Lim Kim registered her first LPGA Tour of Kim covered her face with a mask all week to protect her- Korea victory at the Se Ri Pak Invitational. It came 20 years self and others from COVID-19, the virus that forced the U.S. after that tournament’s namesake produced a seminal Women’s Open to be moved from June to December and kept moment in women’s golf for the Republic of Korea, a victory fans from enjoying the competition in person. in the 1998 U.S. Women’s Open. Now the 25-year-old Kim will have her name etched on the same iconic trophy. Starting the round five strokes behind Shibuno in a tie for ninth, Kim played most of the final round in relative anonym- Kim closed out the weather-delayed final round of the 75th ity. The television broadcast mostly focused on the trio of U.S. Women’s Open at Champions Golf Club on a chilly Shibuno, the affable 22-year-old from Japan nicknamed the Monday in southeast Texas with three consecutive birdies to “Smiling Cinderella” after shocking the golf world 16 months edge countrywoman and world No. 1 Jin Young Ko and Amy ago with her AIG Women’s British Open victory at Woburn Olson by one stroke. Her 4-under-par 67 matched the lowest Golf Club in England; 2009 U.S. Girls’ Junior champion Olson, round of the championship and gave her a 3-under total of who was looking for her first professional win; and Moriya 281. Hinako Shibuno, the 54-hole leader, finished two strokes Jutanugarn, the 26-year-old from Thailand who was seeking back. to join younger sister Ariya as a U.S. Women’s Open cham- pion. The No. 94 player in the Rolex Rankings became the 10th different Korean to claim the Harton S. Semple Trophy since Shibuno was the first to blink, relinquishing her lead to Olson Pak’s breakthrough moment 22 years ago at Blackwolf Run. when she bogeyed the par-4 10th hole. That win also came on a Monday, in what became a 20-hole playoff victory over amateur Jenny Chuasiriporn. Olson appeared ready to take the title. Playing with a heavy heart, the Fargo, N.D., native found out late Saturday night Kim also became the third Korean in the last 15 years to win that her father-in-law, Lee Olson, had suddenly passed the oldest major championship in women’s golf in her first away. Her husband, Grant, an assistant football coach at start, joining Birdie Kim (2005) and In Gee Chun (2015). Only her alma mater, North Dakota State, was en route to Texas two others – Patty Berg in the inaugural event in 1946 and to watch Amy when the couple received the news. Olson Kathy Cornelius 10 years later – had managed to win this title played through the wrenching circumstances, keeping calm in their first start. In fact, this was Kim’s first-ever competi- throughout the round. tion in the United States and her first women’s major. But she couldn’t convert birdie opportunities to build on When the result became official, defending champion what was at one point a two-stroke lead. A bogey caused by Jeongeun Lee6 and another Korean competitor gave the new overshooting the green with her hybrid tee shot on the par-3 winner a celebratory shower in the Player Hospitality tent. 16th effectively ended her title hopes. Olson and Shibuno both converted birdie putts on the 72nd hole, the former to “Can’t really describe it in words,” said Kim through a trans- get within one of Kim and the latter to finish two back. lator. “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 Jutanugarn struggled most of the day, shooting a 3-over 74 I’ll probably feel it when the ceremony and everything wraps to share sixth. up today.” Kim stood at even par for the championship when she arrived The championship had to be completed on Monday due to at the 178-yard 16th hole. She proceeded to execute three of nearly three-quarters of an inch of rain that saturated the the most beautiful iron shots that this championship has wit- Cypress Creek Course on Sunday. Only twice before had nessed in a closing stretch. Her 5-iron tee shot on 16 stopped a non-playoff round of the U.S. Women’s Open been com- 4 feet from the hole. On the 393-yard, par-4 17th, her 8-iron pleted on a Monday: 1987 at Plainfield Country Club, where approach stopped 18 inches from the flagstick and on the a Tuesday 18-hole playoff was required, and 2011 at The 381-yard closing hole, she knocked her 48-degree wedge Broadmoor, where another Korean, So Yeon Ryu, prevailed from the fairway to 7 feet. in a three-hole aggregate playoff over compatriot Hee Kyung Seo. When the final birdie putt dropped, an emotional Kim pumped her fist, almost assured that her closing stretch With temperatures hovering in the 40s and a wind chill that sealed the victory. felt like the mid-30s, players arrived at Champions Golf Club dressed more for a day on the ski slopes. Many competi- Now she will return to golf-crazy Korea with the beautiful tors donned wool caps, wore earmuffs and used gloves to silver trophy, a larger bank account and the latest golf celeb- keep their hands warm. Some even put on parkas in between rity, mask or no mask.“ shots. U.S. Women’s Open 3 75th U.S. Women’s Open Championship Results Dec. 10-14, 2020 Champions Golf Club (Cypress Creek & Jackrabbit Courses) Houston, Texas Par: 36-35—71, Yardage: 6,731 (CC) • Par 36-35--71, Yardage: 6,558 (JR) Entries: none, Purse: $5.5 million Rd.1 Rd.2 Rd.3 Final Pos. Pos. Pos. Pos. Player, Hometown Scores Money T2 T20 T9 1 A Lim Kim, Republic of Korea 68jr-74cc-72-67-281 $1,000,000 T55 T29 T9 T2 Jin Young Ko, Republic of Korea 73cc-70jr-71-68-282 $487,286 1 T3 2 T2 Amy Olson, Fargo, N.D. 67cc-72jr-71-72-282 $487,286 T2 1 1 4 Hinako Shibuno, Japan 68cc-67jr-74-74-283 $266,779 T12 T3 T5 5 Megan Khang, Rockland, Mass. 70jr-69cc-74-72-285 $222,201 T24 T29 T33 T6 Inbee Park, Republic of Korea 71jr-72cc-75-68-286 $177,909 T55 T20 T15 T6 Jeongeun Lee6, Republic of Korea 73cc-69jr-73-71-286 $177,909 T2 T6 T3 T6 Moriya Jutanugarn, Thailand 68jr-72cc-72-74-286 $177,909 T12 T6 T9 T9 Ariya Jutanugarn, Thailand 70jr-70cc-74-73-287 $143,976 T24 T3 T5 T9 a-Kaitlyn Papp, Austin, Texas 71jr-68cc-74-74-287 amateur T55 T47 T25 T11 Sayaka Takahashi, Japan 73jr-72cc-72-71-288 $126,465 T75 T20 T33 T11 Minyoung2 Lee, Republic of Korea 74cc-68jr-76-70-288 $126,465 T5 T6 T25 T13 Yuka Saso, Philippines 69cc-71jr-77-72-289 $96,800 T108 T47 T25 T13 Eri Okayama, Japan 76jr-69cc-72-72-289 $96,800 T24 T29 T39 T13 a-Gabriela Ruffels, Australia 71cc-72jr-76-70-289 amateur T5 T36 T25 T13 Linnea Strom, Sweden 69jr-75cc-73-72-289 $96,800 T12 T20 T15 T13 a-Maja Stark, Sweden 70jr-72cc-73-74-289 amateur T37 T36 T9 T13 Hae Ran Ryu, Republic of Korea 72jr-72cc-70-75-289 $96,800 T24 T14 T5 T13 Lydia Ko, New Zealand 71jr-70cc-72-76-289 $96,800 T37 T47 T33 T20 So Yeon Ryu, Republic of Korea 72jr-73cc-73-72-290 $74,219 T37 T14 T9 T20 Sei Young Kim, Republic of Korea 72jr-69cc-73-76-290 $74,219 T55 T47 T57 T20 Ally Ewing, Fulton, Miss. 73jr-72cc-76-69-290 $74,219 T5 2 T19 T23 a-Linn Grant, Sweden 69cc-69jr-78-75-291 amateur T24 T6 T19 T23 Sarah Schmelzel, Phoenix, Ariz. 71cc-69jr-76-75-291 $55,526 T24 T36 T39 T23 Nasa Hataoka, Japan 71jr-73cc-75-72-291 $55,526 T37 T20 T39 T23 Jenny Shin, Republic of Korea 72cc-70jr-77-72-291 $55,526 T37 T47 T39 T23 Jessica Korda, Jupiter, Fla. 72cc-73jr-74-72-291 $55,526 T24 T6 T9 T23 Cristie Kerr, Scottsdale, Ariz. 71jr-69cc-74-77-291 $55,526 T55 T47 T51 T23 Chella Choi, Republic of Korea 73jr-72cc-75-71-291 $55,526 T75 T47 T25 T30 Madelene Sagstrom, Sweden 74jr-71cc-72-75-292 $36,915 T37 T36 T33 T30 Lauren Stephenson, Lexington, S.C. 72jr-72cc-74-74-292 $36,915 T12 T20 T25 T30 Jennifer Kupcho, Westminster, Colo. 70jr-72cc-75-75-292 $36,915 T12 T29 T39 T30 Hyejin Choi, Republic of Korea 70jr-73cc-76-73-292 $36,915 T55 T47 T19 T30 Bronte Law, England 73jr-72cc-71-76-292 $36,915 T89 T36 T19 T30 Cheyenne Knight, Aledo, Texas 75cc-69jr-72-76-292 $36,915 T24 T6 T39 T30 Ashleigh Buhai, South Africa 71cc-69jr-79-73-292 $36,915 T37 T14 T15 T30 a-Ingrid Lindblad, Sweden 72cc-69jr-74-77-292 amateur T5 T20 T51 T30 Charley Hull, England 69jr-73cc-78-72-292 $36,915 T89 T47 T3 T30 Ji Yeong Kim2, Republic of Korea 75cc-70jr-67-80-292 $36,915 T37 T47 T33 T40 Hannah Green, Australia 72cc-73jr-73-75-293 $27,067 T37 T29 T19 T40 Perrine Delacour, France 72cc-71jr-73-77-293 $27,067 T5 T47 T51 T40 Sophia Popov, Germany 69cc-76jr-75-73-293 $27,067 T37 T14 T5 T40 Yealimi Noh, Concord, Calif.