The fourth major of the season for the LPGA Tour – the Amundi Evian Championship – came down to the wire on Sunday, with Grace Kim winning a wild playoff over world number two, Jeeno Thitikul. Her eagle on the second playoff hole sealed her first major championship victory.
Going into the final round, England’s Cara Gainer and Australia’s Gabriela Ruffels were at the top of a packed leaderboard at 11-under, with Minjee Lee, Somi Lee, Kim and Thitikul behind by one shot at 10-under. Thitikul jumped in front of the group with two birdies on the front nine to go out in 33 (-2). Although Kim was behind by one stroke at the turn, a double bogey on hole 12 set her back to even par for her round. Her final stretch of 4-under to close her round was capped off by an eagle on the 18th hole to tie Thitikul at 14-under.
The playoff between Kim and Thitikul started with Kim finding the water with her approach shot, and then holing an unbelievable shot from the rough for birdie. Thitikul would tie Kim with a birdie after getting up and down.
On the second playoff hole, Thitikul missed the green in a similar position to the first playoff hole; however, Kim hit her approach to 10 feet. A chip to six feet by Thitikul was not enough as Kim made her eagle putt to claim her first major championship.
Last week’s winner, amateur Lottie Woad, claimed her LPGA Tour card after her third place finish at the major. Coming into the week, Woad needed a top 25 finish to earn enough points for her card through the LEAP program. Going into the final round, Woad was at 6-under and 5 shots behind the leaders. Her excellent final round of 64 (-7) was more than enough to claim her LPGA Tour card, and she was even tied for the lead near the end. Here’s what she said after becoming the first player to earn her LPGA Tour card through the new LEAP program.
“It’s really cool. It’s always nice to be the first to do something, so just grateful that I had the opportunity to do it. Just, yeah, relieved now. It was kind of wearing on me for a bit,” Woad said.
With her victory, Kim earned $1.2 million and 650 points in the Race to CME Globe. She now sits in 26th place in the season-long competition. The LPGA Tour and the Ladies European Tour will take a break next week but will resume at the ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open from July 24-27.
