Hyo Joo Kim Wins Dramatic HSBC Women's World Championship

Hyo Joo Kim Wins Dramatic HSBC Women's World Championship

Hyo Joo Kim Wins HSBC
(Image credit: Getty Images)

South Korean Hyo Joo Kim produced a stunning final round of eight-under-par to claim the HSBC Women's World Championship by just one stroke.

Hyo Joo Kim Wins Dramatic HSBC Women's World Championship

Kim had started her day a whopping five shots back of overnight leader Xiyu Lin, but eight birdies in an 11 hole stretch meant she would claw herself into contention.

With Kim's nearest challenger Hannah Green making a hole-out eagle at the 14th, and then a birdie at the 16th, it seemed that the South Korean would just miss out on her fourth LPGA Tour title.

But Green would rue two costly closing bogeys on the 17th and 18th to miss out on the title by just a single shot.

Hyo Joo Kim Wins HSBC

Green's last victory came in September 2019. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images)

Starting the final round, Kim made four consecutive pars to sit four shots back of overnight leader Lin and seven time Major champion Inbee Park.

Despite the gap to the leaders, the 25-year-old would go on a simply sensational run of golf, making birdies at the fifth, sixth, eighth and ninth to reach the turn in 32.

Further birdies followed at the 11th, 12th and 14th as Kim moved into a tie at the top of the leaderboard with Park.

At the very next hole, the par-3 15th, she would make yet another birdie, rolling in an eight-foot putt to take the solo lead.

With Kim now in front, a new challenger was breaking out from the pack. Australian, Hannah Green had been going along quietly during her round, with two birdies meaning she sat two behind Kim.

But a stunning wedge shot from the fairway on the 14th dropped into the hole to put her into a tie with the South Korean.

A birdie then followed at the par-5 16th to put Green top of the leaderboard, and with Kim safely in the clubhouse at 17-under-par, the Australian would need to par her two remaining holes to win.

But the 24-year-old would bogey the par-3 17th and then the par-4 closing hole to finish one shot back of Kim.

TOPICS
Matt Cradock
Staff Writer

Matt joined Golf Monthly in February 2021 covering weekend news, before also transitioning to equipment and testing. After freelancing for Golf Monthly and The PGA for 18 months, he was offered a full-time position at the company in October 2022 and continues to cover weekend news and social media, as well as help look after Golf Monthly’s many buyers’ guides and equipment reviews.

Taking up the game when he was just seven years of age, Matt made it into his county squad just a year later and continues to play the game at a high standard, with a handicap of around 2-4. To date, his best round came in 2016, where he shot a six-under-par 66 having been seven-under through nine holes. He currently plays at Witney Lakes in Oxfordshire and his favourite player is Rory McIlroy, despite nearly being struck by his second shot at the 17th during the 2015 BMW PGA Championship.

Matt’s current What’s In The Bag?

Driver: Honma TW747, 8.75°

Fairway Wood: TaylorMade Rocketballz Stage 2, 15°, 19°

Hybrid: Adams Super Hybrid, 22°

Irons: Mizuno MP54, 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland 588 RTX 2.0 Tour Satin, 50°, 56°, 60°

Putter: Cleveland TFI 2135 Satin Cero

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x