Kim Se-young's Cheers "First Major Victory Achieved" (Update 2)

Third Major KPMG Women's Victory by 5 Shots '740 Million Won Jackpot'

Kim Sei-young is cheering after securing her victory on the 18th hole green on the final day of the KPMG Women's. Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, USA = Getty Images / Multibits Photo by Getty Images

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] 'Number 7' Kim Se-young (27, Mirae Asset) has won her first major title.

On the 12th (Korean time), at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, USA (par 70, 6,577 yards), the final day of the third LPGA major, the KPMG Women's PGA Championship (total prize money $4.3 million), she surged with a 7-under-par round to complete a dominant 5-stroke victory (14-under-par 266). This is her 11th career win, coming 11 months after the final event of the 2019 season, the CME Group Tour Championship in November last year. The winner's prize money is $645,000 (740 million KRW). This marks Korea's fourth win of the year.

Kim Se-young started the day 2 strokes ahead and displayed flawless play with 7 birdies. After her first birdie on the 3rd hole, she added birdies on the 6th and 9th holes (both par 4 and par 5 respectively), reducing 3 strokes in the front nine. In the back nine, she added two pairs of consecutive birdies on the 13th-14th and 16th-17th holes, fending off her competitors' chase. Her powerful drives averaged 278 yards, her iron shots were precise with an 83% greens in regulation rate, and her putting was outstanding with only 26 putts in the round.

Kim Se-young debuted on the Korean LPGA (KLPGA) Tour in 2011, winning 5 times before moving to the U.S. stage in 2015. She is nicknamed the 'Queen of Comebacks' and the 'Wizard of Red Pants.' In her first year on the LPGA Tour, she won 3 times and earned Rookie of the Year honors, consistently collecting at least one trophy every year. Last year, she notably won the Tour Championship by one stroke, hitting the '1.5 million dollar (1.73 billion KRW) jackpot.'

This year, she started strong with a tie for 7th at the Diamond Resorts and 5th at Gainbridge, but then faced the variable of the COVID-19 pandemic. Staying in Korea to manage her condition, she returned to the field after 7 months at the Arkansas Championship in August, finishing tied for 5th. In this tournament, she posted under-par rounds for three consecutive days, including 5-under on the second day and 3-under on the third, becoming the 'Major Queen' in just her fourth event since returning.

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