Kim Hyoju's Comeback Show "Victory Cheers After 5 Years and 3 Months"... Park Inbi Ties for 3rd Place (Summary)

HSBC Women’s World Championship Final Day 8-Under Par '1-Stroke Victory', Green 2nd, Lin Xiyu and Tawattananakit Tied 3rd

Kim Hyo-joo is smiling brightly while holding the trophy right after winning the HSBC Women's World Championship. Sentosa (Singapore) = Getty Images / Multibits Photo by Multibits

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] It was a dramatic comeback show by Kim Hyo-joo (26, Lotte).

On the 2nd (Korean time) at the Sentosa Golf Club Tanjong Course (par 72, 6,718 yards) in Singapore, Kim surged with an 8-under-par final round to secure a one-stroke victory (17-under-par 271) at the LPGA Tour HSBC Women's World Championship (total prize money $1.6 million). This marks her fourth LPGA Tour win, coming 5 years and 3 months after her victory at the Pure Silk Bahamas Classic in February 2016. The winner's prize money is $240,000 (2.7 billion KRW). It is Korea's second win of the year.

Starting tied for 8th place, 5 strokes behind, Kim collected 8 birdies without a single bogey. She made back-to-back birdies on holes 5-6 and 8-9 on the front nine, and again on holes 11-12 and 14-15 on the back nine. Her shot accuracy stood out, missing the fairway only once and the green twice. She completed the round with 26 putts. Although she finished the round in second place, one stroke behind Hannah Green (Australia), Green faltered with consecutive bogeys on holes 17 and 18, allowing Kim to claim the come-from-behind victory.

Kim Hyo-joo has been a ‘monster’ dominating the professional stage since her amateur days. In 2012, she collected trophies in Korea (Lotte Mart Women's Open), Japan (Suntory), and Taiwan (Swinging Skirts). In Japan, she set remarkable records as the youngest winner ever (16 years and 332 days) and the lowest 18-hole score (61). Turning professional in October, she caused a sensation by winning the Hyundai China Ladies Open in December, setting the shortest time to victory (2 months and 11 days). In 2014, she amassed 5 wins and became the KLPGA Tour ‘quadruple crown’ winner.

As a non-member, she secured a ‘direct LPGA Tour ticket’ by winning the Evian Championship in September. She immediately joined the LPGA Tour in 2015, achieving three wins including the Founders Cup in March and the Bahamas Classic in January 2016. Her slump afterward was rather unexpected. Last year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she competed domestically instead of in the US, winning twice and earning the ‘quintuple crown’ title, marking a brilliant comeback. This year, she returned to the LPGA Tour and reached the top in just her fourth tournament.

‘Golf Empress’ Park In-bee (33, KB Financial Group) finished with a 2-under-par, settling for a tie for 3rd place (15-under-par 273). This is her fourth ‘top 10’ finish of the season. The group also includes Lin Xiyu (China), who was the leader the previous day, and ‘ANA Champ’ Patty Tavatanakit (Thailand). Korea’s Yoo So-yeon (31, Mediheal) finished 6th (12-under-par 276), and Jeon In-ji (27, KB Financial Group) tied for 7th (11-under-par 277), showing strong performances. ‘Number 1’ Ko Jin-young (26) finished tied for 24th (4-under-par 284).

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.