Friday, March 29, 2024 | Ramadan 18, 1445 H
clear sky
weather
OMAN
25°C / 25°C
EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

Park wins US Women’s Open

1062101
1062101
minus
plus

BEDMINSTER, New Jersey: The South Korean juggernaut continued as long-hitting Park Sung-Hyun broke a three-way tie with two late birdies to win the US Women’s Open by two strokes at Trump National on Sunday for her first Major championship.


The 23-year-old Park, runaway favourite to win LPGA Rookie of the Year honours, birdied the par-five 15th to forge ahead and, after co-leader amateur Choi Hye-Jin double-bogeyed the 16th, added a six-foot birdie at the 17th for some cushion.


Park, who won seven times on the Korean LPGA Tour in 2016, saved par at the par-five 18th with a superb chip from a tight lie behind the green to post a five-under-par 67.


As the poker-faced Park made her way from the 18th green to the scoring tent, she paused to wave and bow towards US President Donald Trump, who looked down from his bullet-proof, glass-enclosed private box. “To be honest I still cannot believe this is actually happening. It’s almost like I’m floating on a cloud in the sky,” Park said through an interpreter after signing for 11-under 277.


The precocious, 17-year-old Choi found water off the tee at the par-three 16th to scuttle her chance for a historic win, but birdied the last to complete a 71 for sole second at nine-under. Choi was beaming with pride with a runner-up medal hanging around her neck. “This tournament for me, even if I could just come and play, that alone would be an honour, but on top of that... I get the runner-up and it is unbelievably joyous thing for me,” said Choi.


KOREAN DOMINANCE


The Korean dominance of women’s golf, providing seven of the last 10 US Women’s Open winners, was evident with the nation providing eight of the top 10 finishers, including the two new faces at the top who could further extend that domination.


Shanshan Feng of China, a seven-time LPGA Tour winner who had led since the opening round, hung in with a chance, needing to hole out from the fairway with her third shot for an eagle at the 18th to tie Park.


But after her shot bounded beyond the green, the 27-year-old Feng duffed her first chip and went on to card a triple-bogey for 75, finishing equal fifth at six-under.


World number one Ryu So-Yeon of South Korea (70) and compatriot Hur Mi-Jung (68) shared third on seven-under. — Reuters


US Women’s Open final scores


(USA unless noted, a-denotes amateur):


277 - Park Sung-Hyun (KOR) 73-70-67-67


279 - a-Choi Hye-Jin (KOR) 69-69-70-71


281 - Hur Mi-Jung (KOR) 71-72-70-68, Ryu So-Yeon (KOR) 68-72-71-70


282 - Carlota Ciganda (ESP) 69-71-72-70, Lee Jeong-Eun6 (KOR) 69-69-73-71, Feng Shanshan (CHN) 66-70-71-75


283 - Kim Sei-Young (KOR) 69-73-72-69, Amy Yang (KOR) 67-71-70-75, Lee Mi-Rim (KOR) 70-74-67-72


284 - Minjee Lee (AUS) 69-72-77-66, Marina Alex 71-70-73-70


285 - Brooke Henderson (CAN) 70-71-73-71, Ji Eun-Hee (KOR) 73-71-69-72


286 - Moriya Jutanugarn (THA) 71-75-71-69, Chun In-Gee (KOR) 70-70-76-70, Lizette Salas 71-73-71-71, Ko Jin-Young (KOR) 73-72-70-71


287 - Bae Seon-Woo (KOR) 70-69-74-74, Cristie Kerr 69-73-70-75


288 - Jessica Korda 75-69-73-71, Yan Jing (CHN) 71-74-72-71, a-Jennifer Kupcho 74-72-71-71, Jenny Shin (KOR) 71-72-72-73, Charley Hull (ENG) 72-70-73-73, Jane Park 72-72-71-73


SHARE ARTICLE
arrow up
home icon