IK Kim Overcomes Her Demons

Yesterday, Korea’s IK Kim competed against England’s Jodi Ewart Shadoff to claim an overdue major title in the Ricoh Women’s British Open at Kingsbarns.

Kim saw her six-shot overnight lead cut in half thanks to a superb run of scoring from Shadoff, who followed a birdie on the second with five in a row from the sixth and another on the 13th.

The 29-year-old then birdied the 17th to close the gap to two and parred the last to complete a 64, equalling the course record set on day one by Michelle Wie and matched by Inbee Park in round three.

Kim now has won three times, the most by anyone on the LPGA Tour this year, all in the last two months.

She almost won her first major at the 2012 Kraft Nabisco Championship – now known as the ANA Inspiration –  until her one-foot putt spun out of the hole. She lost and it was a tough memory to shake and overcome. That is, until Sunday.

”I almost cried when I won. Winning is great,” Kim said. ”It’s a long process to get over 2012. A lot of people helped me. Now I enjoy playing golf again. What it did teach me is to to give the same effort to every shot, even the shortest of putts.”

A birdie at the par-3 opening hole set Kim on her way. She made birdie on the par-5 eighth, and then had her first bogey in 44 holes with a three-putt at the turn.

Jodi Ewart Shadoff of England shot a 64 to put pressure on Kim. But Kim did not falter over an increasingly soggy course. She finished at an 18-under 270 to capture the $487,500 prize.

She is the third South Korean winner of the Women’s British Open in the last six years, following Jiyai Shin (2012) and Inbee Park (2015).

Michelle Wie went out in 30, but closed with a 66 to tie for third with Caroline Masson (67) and Georgia Hall (70).

What a great feat for IK Kim — overcoming her demons from the past and conquering Kingsbarn with a great attitude and wonderful sportsmanship.