Kim Gets Groove Back With LPGA Win

With Ochoa and Webb hot on her trail by a mere one stroke, Kim Mi-hyeon took a risk at the 17th hole (Par 5, 508 yards). The ambitious tee shot took on wind, rolled down the slope, and stopped nearly 300 yards away. It was an incredible distance for the petite Kim whose drive distance averages 247.8 yards (ranked 140).

At 190 yards away from the pin, Kim hit her second shot with a seven wood. With shouts coming from the gallery, the ball flew over the bunker and landed on the green. Her initial 7.6m eagle putt attempt was a miss, but availed Kim an easy birdie. Kim got away from chasers by two strokes and reserved the title of May queen.

Kim had a special rooter at the game: Yim Jae-geun, her boyfriend since last fall, flew in from Korea to cheer for her. He runs a golf school in the city of Yongin and went to Yongin University with Kim. Kim has been saying that she wanted to get married for some time, and there has been talk of marriage between the two.

Kim had more good omens before the game. She dreamed of meeting her newborn nephew, who was born in time for her third round. “My nephew must be my good luck charm. This win will be a present to him,” said Kim with much enthusiasm.

Kim’s win was the fourth LPGA victory achieved by a Korean female golfer this season. Yim Seong-ah (Nonghyeop Hansamin) has won at the last week’s game. Kim’s resurfacing shook off doubts that her prime might be over.