“Breaking the Top 10 For First Time In 2 Years Feels Like A Win”

“It almost feels as if I’ve won. It’s slightly embarrassing.”

Birdie Kim (26, picture) is playing in the U.S. Ladies Professional Golf Association tour. On April 16, Kim was busy receiving congratulations for finishing tied for sixth with a score of 5 under-par 283 at the Ginn Open, which came to a close at Reunion Golf Club (par 72) in Florida.

This was because it was the first time she has finished in the top ten of an event after one year and ten months and 39 competitions since winning the U.S. Women’s Open in June 2005. On the last day of the U.S. Women’s Open, Birdie Kim was in the spotlight after making an unbelievable bunker shot birdie on the 18th hole to claim the championship, but following this, she fell into an extreme slump.

Last year, she was disqualified in the preliminaries 11 times, and this season she failed to make the cut in four competitions. One reason is that she has suffered from “driver yips” in which one becomes stiff at the tee. Last year, her driver accuracy was 56.8% (ranking 161st). In this competition, she raised her average of fairway hits to 70% and reduced her score. Her winnings from this competition were $70,940, which is more than the amount she earned in all of last year ($65,205).

She is alone on the tour after losing her sponsor, but Kim said, “I feel as if I’ve regained my confidence. I want to be congratulated for really winning though.”

Brittany Lincicome (U.S.), who had been tied for third place four shots behind the leaders the day before, earned a come-from-behind win by keeping her ground while the leading group fell to the strong wind and rain, and claimed victory by recording a total of 10 under-par 278. Lorena Ochoa (Mexico) who had shared the lead, lost six shots between the 13th and 18th holes and finished in second place (9 under-par 279). Laura Davies (England), who had been tied with Ochoa the previous day, made a double bogie on the 17th hole and collapsed on the 18th hole with a triple bogie, finishing in third place (7 under-par 281).

Se-ri Pak (CJ) finished tied for sixth, while Meena Lee (KTF), Hye-jung Choi (KASCO), and Sarah Lee finished the competition tied in eighth place (4 under-par 284).

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