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The Star
10 hours ago
- Sport
- The Star
Australian Grace Kim wins maiden Major title at The Amundi Evian Championship in playoff over Thailand's Jeeno Thitikul
EVIAN-LES-BAINS, FRANCE - JULY 13: Grace Kim of Australia poses for a photograph with The Amundi Evian Championship 2025 trophy in front of the national flag of Australia following the final round of The Amundi Evian Championship 2025 at Evian Resort Golf Club on July 13, 2025 in Evian-les-Bains, France. -- Photo by-LPGA EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France: Australian Grace Kim lifted her maiden Major title at The Amundi Evian Championship with a nail-biting playoff victory over Thailand's Jeeno Thitikul at Evian Resort Golf Club in France. Kim's dramatic victory came on the second extra hole when she eagled the par-five 18th for the second time on Sunday. She had also made a three at the 18th in regulation play, hitting a superb four-hybrid to a foot of the pin. The tap-in eagle resulted in a two-shot swing as playing partner Thitikul could only make par, leaving both players tied on 14-under-par 270 following closing 67s at the par-71 course. On the first playoff hole, Thitikul had looked set to claim her sixth LPGA title and first Major victory when Kim hit her second shot into the water hazard on the right of the green. However, the Australian pulled off a stunning chip-in for birdie, forcing Thitikul to sink a 10-foot putt to extend the sudden-death decider. The Thai player had narrowly missed a similar putt in regulation play for the outright win. Both players found the fairway off the tee on the second playoff hole, also contested at the 18th. After Kim hit the same four-hybrid to about 15 feet right of the flag, Thitikul pulled her six-iron to the left and did well to find the putting surface from a tough lie. Kim confidently sank the eagle putt to seal the win, earning a US$1.2 million paycheque from the US$8 million total purse. Describing her victory as 'a massive tick', Kim revealed that she was losing motivation following a string of lacklustre performances early this year. 'I had to get some hard conversations done with the team, kind of had to wake up a little bit – so to be sitting here next to this trophy is definitely surreal,' said Kim, who now has two LPGA titles to her name having broken through in her rookie season at the 2023 LOTTE Championship. 'I caught a bit of a cold early this week as well, but even if I'm 80%, I'll give my 100% of that 80. Yeah, there was no stopping me this week,' added the 24-year-old. It was a heartbreaking loss for Thitikul, but the 22-year-old Thai took the setback in her stride. 'I knew it was going to be a tough day, it was going to be a long day, but I just want to say I'm so proud of myself and what I did out there,' she said. Kim is the fifth Australian to win a women's Major title, joining Jan Stephenson, Karrie Webb, Hannah Green and Minjee Lee. Winner of this event in 2021 for the first of her three Major titles, Lee eagled the final hole for a round of 68 to tie for third place on 13-under-par with English amateur sensation Lottie Woad, who shot a stunning 64. 'I felt like I left a lot out there. I didn't have my best stuff, just kind of scrambled here and there. So, I think with what I had, I played pretty decent,' said the 29-year-old Lee, whose third Major victory and 11th LPGA title came at last month's KPMG Women's PGA Championship. 54-hole co-leaders, Gabriela Ruffels of Australia and Cara Gainer of England, were unable to sustain their challenges on an exciting final day. Ruffels signed off with a 72 to settle for joint ninth position on 10-under-par, while Gainer dropped down the leaderboard into joint 14th place following a final round 74. Both Malaysian players who teed off in the fourth women's Major of the year failed to make the halfway cut of two-over-par. 2025 Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific champion Jeneath Wong carded rounds of 74 and 72 to finish 36 holes just two short of the cutline, while newly-minted professional Mirabel Ting was five shots further back following rounds of 78 and 73. -- The LPGA
Toronto Sun
a day ago
- Sport
- Toronto Sun
Grace Kim with a stunning finish wins Evian Championship for her first major
Published Jul 13, 2025 • 2 minute read Grace Kim of Australia poses for a photograph with The Amundi Evian Championship 2025 trophy following the final round of The Amundi Evian Championship 2025 at Evian Resort Golf Club on July 13, 2025 in Evian-les-Bains, France. Photo by Stuart Franklin / Getty Images EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France — Grace Kim delivered one stunning shot after another Sunday in the Evian Championship, starting with an eagle to force a playoff and another eagle to beat Jeeno Thitikul on the second extra hole to make her first LPGA win a major title. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Kim, whose 2-foot eagle putt on the par-5 18th in regulation gave her a 4-under 67, looked to be just as surprised as everyone else when she rolled in a 12-foot eagle putt to win the playoff. The 24-year-old Australian calmly placed her hand over her mouth and stood still before doubling over and breaking into a wide smile. Thitikul's biggest challenge had been English amateur Lottie Woad, who was coming off a win in the Irish Women's Open and at one point had the lead on the back nine of Evian Resort. She closed with 64 and then waited to see if that would be enough. Woad was bidding to become the first amateur to win a major since Catherine Lacoste at the 1967 U.S. Women's Open. Thitikul birdied the 17th to take the lead, and the Thai player was on the verge of her first major when she laid up short of the pond and hit wedge into 8 feet on the final hole. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. But there was Kim, blasting a fairway metal onto the green. The ball rolled back down the slope to 2 feet for eagle to tie for the lead. Thitikul's birdie putt for the title missed right. She shot 67 and joined Kim at 14-under 270, one ahead of Woad and Minjee Lee (68). Back to the 18th in the playoff, Thitikul again looked like a winner when Kim's second shot bounced on a cart path, over some rocks and into the pond. Thitikul was just left of the green in two. Kim took her penalty drop, then chipped in for birdie across the green. Thitikul had to make an 8-foot birdie putt to extend the playoff, which she did. Playing the 18th for the third time, Kim again delivered another beauty over the pond and onto the green to about 12 feet. Thitikul, who had tiny insects buzzing around her ball in the collar of a bunker, chipped weakly to about 6 feet. She could only watch as Kim ended it with an eagle. That extended what already is a record streak in the LPGA Tour's 75-year history, the 18th consecutive tournament to start a season with a different winner. It also makes 13 different winners in the last 13 majors. Kim won for the second time on the LPGA, adding to her title in Hawaii two years ago. Golf NHL World Toronto & GTA Toronto & GTA
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Minjee Lee Shows 'Fire' in Search of Next Major at Evian Championship
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Winning back-to-back major championships in the same season is so rare that it has only happened two times on the LPGA Tour in the last 20 years. For men, it has only happened once in the same period. Minjee Lee could be adding her name to that illustrious list this Sunday. The Australian finished second through the first 54 holes of the Mundi Evian Championship, just one stroke behind compatriot Gabriela Ruffels and England's Cara Gainer. She is the only major champion within three strokes of first place. Minjee Lee of Australia tees off on the fourth hole during Round Three of The Amundi Evian Championship 2025 at Evian Resort Golf Club on July 12, 2025 in Evian-les-Bains, France. Minjee Lee of Australia tees off on the fourth hole during Round Three of The Amundi Evian Championship 2025 at Evian Resort Golf Club on July 12, 2025 in Evian-les-Bains, it doesn't hurt that she's coming off her third career major title at PGA Frisco: "I definitely feel like I have a different mentality and maybe a little bit different fire in me after KPMG [Women's PGA Championship]. "I definitely have a little different motivation I think coming off that win. So, yeah, I just feel like I'm in a really good position right now and, you know, can chase tomorrow." Minjee Lee Proud for 'Fighting Back' on Moving Day Lee signed one of the few clean scorecards of the third round at Évian-Les-Bains, carding five bogey-free birdies to bring her 54-hole score to 10-under. The 11-time LPGA Tour winner showed her full potential on Moving Day, making up for lost ground in the second round. Lee began the event with a 66 in the first round, but fell behind with a 71 in the second. "I think, after yesterday, I felt really proud of myself for fighting back after the start I had...I was like, 'I cannot end the round like this', so I just really fought back. "I just felt like a good round today would put me in a pretty decent position come Sunday and I think I've done a pretty good job of that." The truth is that playing at the level she is doing it and being just one stroke behind, Minjee Lee is fully in contention. A clear example is her victory at this same event in 2021. In that edition, Lee managed to comeback from a seven-stroke deficit during the final round to tie Jeongeun Lee6 for first place. The Australian ultimately defeated the Korean in the playoff to win her first major title. If Lee wins the Amundi Evian Championship, she will join Brooks Koepka (2018 US Open, PGA Championship), Inbee Park (2013 Chevron Championship, US Women's Open, Women's PGA Championships), and Annika Sörenstam (2005 Kraft Nabisco Championship, LPGA Championships) on the very exclusive list of winners of back-to-back major championships in the last 20 years. More Golf: Surprising PGA Tour pro ties Scottish Open course record for lead
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Health
- Newsweek
Charley Hull Breaks Silence after Collapsing at Evian Championship
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Charley Hull is a familiar name in golf headlines, but it's never pleasant to see her in the condition she was in at Évian-Les-Bains. The Englishwoman was unable to finish the first round of the Amundi Evian Championship due to the effects of a virus that was affecting her. A day after this unfortunate situation, the LPGA Tour star addressed her fans through her Instagram account to give them an update on her health. Fortunately, it was good news: "Been struggling with a virus all week but it got the better of me yesterday... thanks to the medics who took care of me and to all those who have reached out with messages of support, it's really appreciated." "Happy to say I'm feeling a lot better today, just gutted I can't play the weekend at such a fantastic tournament." On Thursday, Charlie Hull was forced to sit on the ground while playing the 3rd hole (12th of the day), feeling seriously unwell. Shortly after, she collapsed on the 4th tee and had to be carried off the course by medical staff. She was later airlifted to a nearby hospital. Hull had carded three birdies and two bogeys before being forced to withdraw from the Evian Championship. A week earlier, she had played in the KPMG Women's Irish Open on the Ladies European Tour, where she finished fourth with a score of 12-under. This was Hull's 13th appearance at the Evian Championship. She had made eight cuts so far at Évian-Les-Bains, but had only managed one top-10 finish, tying for third in 2022. Charley Hull of England falls as she climbs out of a bunker on the third hole, before later withdrawing from play, during Round One of The Amundi Evian Championship 2025 at Evian Resort Golf Club... Charley Hull of England falls as she climbs out of a bunker on the third hole, before later withdrawing from play, during Round One of The Amundi Evian Championship 2025 at Evian Resort Golf Club on July 10, 2025 in Evian-les-Bains, France. MoreHull has been falling short of expectations during the 2025 season. In nine LPGA Tour events before the Evian Championship, she had finished in the top 10 only once, fourth place at the HSBC Women's World Championship. On the Ladies' European Tour, she has played in only two events and finished in the top 10 in both. These results have caused her to drop significantly in the world rankings, where she currently sits at 19th. She started the year as World No. 8. More Golf: Rory McIlroy Grinds Through "Scrappy Start" to Stay in Contention
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ireland's Leona Maguire records first LPGA ace at Evian to hold share of lead
Leona Maguire picked a fine time to record her first LPGA ace. The 30-year-old Irishwoman holed out with a 8-iron from 164 yards on the picturesque, downhill second hole at the Evian Resort Golf Club, overlooking Lake Geneva. The timely one boosted Maguire to an opening 6-under 65 and a share of the early lead with Andrea Lee in the fourth major of the season. "Looked good in the air," said Maguire. "You're never sure on that hole until the ball actually lands. Sort of a perfect morning for it. Not much wind which is nice, especially on that tee box." Leona Maguire of Ireland celebrates a hole in one with Perrine Delacour of France on the second hole during Round One of The Amundi Evian Championship 2025 at Evian Resort Golf Club on July 10, 2025 in Evian-les-Bains, France. Maguire actually holds a share of the 18-hole course record at the Amundi Evian after carding a scorching 61 in 2021. The experience, on a course that requires it, meant a great deal after a fun but tiring week at the KPMG Women's Irish Open, which qualifies as a "mini major" for her. This marks the fifth consecutive week of competition for Maguire, dating back to the Meijer LPGA Classic, and she welcomed the rare chance to have the pro-am off this week in France. Advertisement "It was also my first not being in the pro-am in a about four, five years, so that was also a nice break," said Maguire. "So also not a panic, I guess, as much of a scramble to try and get as much in as you possibly can Monday through Wednesday. It was nice to be quite fresh this morning, almost." Maguire began her first round on the 10th hole with bogey and quickly rebounded with birdie on the second. With five birdies and an ace on the day, the former Duke star hit 15 greens, 11 fairways and needed only 27 putts in her opening round. "I think you have to be very patient, very accepting," said Maguire of what it takes to be successful at Evian. "You know you're not going to get a flat lie out there. You'll get some iffy bounces. Advertisement "Did a really good job staying patient. Hit what I thought was a perfect tee shot down 6 and ended up in a divot. You have to accept things like that." This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Leona Maguire records first LPGA ace at Evian to hold share of lead
