US Women's Open Golf 2020: A Lim Kim Wins 1st Major with 4-Under Final Round

A Lim Kim birdied her final three holes to win the 2020 U.S. Women's Open by one stroke over Jin Young Ko and Amy Olson on Monday at the Champions Golf Club in Houston.

Making her first U.S. Women's Open start, Kim posted a four-under 67 with six birdies and two bogeys in the final round. It's the third career victory and first major title for the 25-year-old South Korean, whose previous two wins came on the LPGA of Korea Tour.

Here's a look at the top five finishers on the final leaderboard:

• 1. A Lim Kim (-3)
• T-2. Jin Young Ko (-2)
• T-2. Amy Olson (-2)
• 4. Hinako Shibuno (-1)
• 5. Megan Khang (+1)

Kim earned the $1 million top prize and tied the tournament record by overcoming a five-stroke deficit entering the final round to win. The last player to accomplish the feat was World Golf Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam in 1995, according to the Associated Press.

"Still can't really soak in that I'm the champion," Kim said.

She surged into contention with three birdies over a four-hole stretch starting on No. 5. Her hopes appeared to fade with back-to-back bogeys to open the back nine, but the fantastic finish with birdies on Nos. 16, 17 and 18 put her atop the leaderboard for good.

Even though South Korea has become a dominant force in women's golf, Kim's triumph comes as a surprise given her limited career resume and lack of experience in the always difficult U.S. Open.

She never appeared fazed by the situation, starting with a three-under 68 in the opening round and finishing with the flurry of birdies in tricky scoring conditions on a chilly day at Champions Golf Club.

Kim waited as the remaining groups played the final holes, and her victory became official when Olson couldn't hole out from the fairway at the 18th.

Olson, who led after the tournament's first round, was playing with a heavy heart after her father-in-law, Lee Olson, died unexpectedly Saturday night. It marked the third time the American finished in the top 10 of a major, including a second-place result in the 2018 Evian Championship.

"I felt very weak and helpless the last couple days, and probably today on the golf course," Olson said, per the AP. "I really believe the Lord just carried me through. It just makes you realize how much bigger life is than golf. But pleased with my finish overall and my performance."

Shibuno, the 2019 Women's British Open winner, led the event after both the second and third rounds but faded to fourth with a three-over 74 in the final round.

Ko continued to showcase herself as one of the best major players in the world by tying for second. She won two major titles last year, the ANA Inspiration and Evian Championship, and she's regularly been in contention in the sport's biggest events since finishing second in the 2015 Women's British Open.

Kim joins Sei Young Kim (Women's PGA Championship), Mirim Lee (ANA Inspiration) and Sophia Popov (Women's British Open) as this year's major title winners. The Evian Championship was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.