Amazing Grace: Kim becomes fifth Australian woman to claim a major

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May 30, 2025; Erin, Wisconsin, USA; Grace Kim tees off at the 1st hole during the second round of the U.S. Womens Open golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

REUTERS

A career that appeared stuck in second gear took a dramatic turn on Sunday as Grace Kim produced a stunning finish to become Australias fifth major winner in womens golf at the Evian Championship.

The former Youth Olympics champion was three shots adrift of the lead after 14 holes at Evian-les-Bains in the French Alps but went birdie-birdie-par-eagle to force her way into a playoff with Thai world number two Jeeno Thitikul.

Kims charge looked over when she dunked her approach to the 18th into a green-side pond in the first extra hole.

Instead, she chipped in for birdie over the same pond to force another hole, then drained a 20-foot eagle putt to deny Thitikul and claim one of the great wins in major golf.

In her third season on the LPGA Tour, Kim had been treading water with only one top-10 finish in her previous 11 starts but said she had come to Evian-les-Bains with a different mindset.

Obviously it’s a huge achievement for me. I’ve had a lot of doubts early this year. I was kind of losing motivation,” said the 24-year-old, whose only previous win was in Hawaii in 2023.

I kind of had to get some hard conversations done with the team. Yeah, kind of had to wake up a little bit.