South Korean Kim Wins US Golf Open

Violent lightning was accompanied by rocking thunder, torrential rain and blustery winds on Sunday, as it was only Birdie’s birdie.

23-year-old South Korean golfer BIRDIE KIM has won the U.S. Women’s Open title with a stunning shot on the final hole to secure a two-shot victory at the Cherry Hills Country Club outside of Denver, Colorado.

Birdie has blasted a stunning 60-foot bunker shot into the cup on the 72nd hole here Sunday to capture the US Women’s Open as Annika Sorenstam and Michelle Wie collapsed in their bids And rest is history.

The shot was that stunning, and the audience was that pent-up. Until then, this tournament looked like the biggest letdown in sports since Maurice Greene and Michael Johnson both pulled up lame in the 200 meters at the 2000 U. S. Olympic trials.

Kim, who changed her first name from Ju-Yun to Birdie this year because she wanted to stand out from the five other Kims on the LPGA Tour, cleared the lip of the bunker, landed the ball onto the green and watched it roll in.

By living up to her name, the golfer known last year as Ju-Yun Kim finished her final round on one-over par 72 and completed 72 holes on three-over par 287 to beat US amateurs Brittany Lang, 19, and Morgan Pressel, 17, by two strokes.

It started with Annika Sorenstam and her quest for the Grand Slam.

Then came 17-year-old Morgan Pressel playing the lead role in a parade of teenage contenders, poised to become the youngest Major champion in golf history.

Ultimately, the most compelling moment of a riveting week at Cherry Hills belonged to Birdie Kim.

“I don’t think I’ll make I just tried to get close. If I try my best to make par, maybe I can. Or make a bogey, still I have a chance. I just try to par and get close to hole”. “I never think about winning,” said Kim, whose win came on a stage that seemingly had been prepared for the sport’s two leading ladies, Annika Sorenstam and Michelle Wie.

Kim had been tied with amateur Morgan Pressel, with one hole to play. But Pressel bogeyed to finish second with another amateur, fellow-American Brittany Lang. Joint overnight leaders Michelle Wie of the United States and Britain’s Karen Stupples both fell apart in the final round, carding 82 and 78 respectively. Birdie Kim was asked if she ever dreamed of winning the U.S. Open.

She further adds “Never. After yesterday’s round I thought I could make the top-10. I never thought about winning this tournament”. “Still, I can’t believe it,” Kim said. “I’m so happy.”

Kim is the third South Korean to win a major women’s golf tournament, following Grace Park and Se Ri Pak. World number one Annika Sorenstam of Sweden ended nine shots behind in her bid for a third Grand Slam victory this season. No player (male or female) has ever won all four majors in a single season.

‘Birdie’ lives up to her name. She also reveals secreat behind her lucky new name . Everybody likes this name,” Kim said. “Everybody says it’s a good name for golf.”

At the last hole, Kim thought she could get it close. When it went in, she was in shock. Later, seated next to an interpreter, Kim’s shock only increased when she discovered how much money she had just won - USD US560,000 (USD 727,000).

“Woo,” said Kim. No translation was necessary. Birdie rocks, makes her country proud and rest remains as history.