I have been watching men’s and women’s golf for 30 years. What I saw from Australia’s Grace Kim of Sydney on Sunday in the final round of the Evian Championship from France was spectacular beyond belief, and the best stretch of golf ever to finish a tournament.
Kim entered the final hole two strokes back of leader Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand. Thitikul was at -14 and Kim was at -12. On the par five, Kim had a remarkable approach shot from the fairway and eagled her putt to force a playoff. Thitikul had to settle for par.
Then in the first hole of the playoff, Kim seemed to have lost the tournament as her ball dropped into the water after bouncing on a cart path and over rocks. As a result, she had to take a one stroke penalty. Then once again Kim had a shot for the ages. She delivered a birdie from the rough. Thitikul also had a birdie on the first playoff hole to force a second playoff. Then Kim won with another eagle on the second playoff hole, while Thitikul had to settle for birdie.
Kim was -5 over the last three holes. She also had another eagle during her round on the fifth hole. To register three eagles in a single day of major golf competition is unprecedented.
This is the second time in 2025 that an Australian has won a major in women’s golf. Minjee Lee won the Women’s PGA Championship. Lee and English amateur Lottie Woad were tied for third place at -13. Americans Angel Yin and Andrea Lee were tied for fifth place at -12. Ireland’s Leona Maguire and Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn tied for seventh place at -11.
