At U.S. Women’s Open, “Birdie Kim” Turns Into a Princess Overnight

“Get Birdie.”

Kim Ju-yeon of KTF, a.k.a. “Birdie Kim,” won the U.S. Women’s Open Championship with a miraculous bunker shot.

She deeply impressed the golf world and seems to have become a princess overnight.

“Kim Ju-yeon will play in the Canadian Women’s Open next month in Halifax,” the Royal Canadian Golf Association announced on Tuesday. The RCGA added it was an honor that Kim, the remarkable winner of the U.S. Women’s Open, would play. The association also said watching Kim play would be a memorable experience for Canadian golf fans.

Kim became eligible at the last minute to compete in the HSBC Women’s World Match Play Championship (total prize: $2 million) at Gladstone’s Hamilton Farm GC (par 72) on Thursday night. Kim, who ranked 66th in earnings, failed to earn one of the automatic bids for the event earlier this month, which were given to the top 60 earners on the tour. Her U.S. Open victory won her the last spot in the tourney.

The Associated Press and other major press overseas reported this fact in detail, a reflection of Kim’s elevated status.

The final round of the U.S. Women’s Open this year recorded the highest TV viewer rating since 1997 with 3.2 percent (Market Share 7%). Last year’s viewer rating was 1.9 percent (Market Share 5%).

Jong-Seok Kim kjs0123@donga.com