Lim Kim emerged victorious in the LPGA season opener at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions, showcasing her skill with a 5-under 67 final round. Responding to a late surge by Nelly Korda, Kim secured the win with three birdies in her last four holes. Korda, the seven-time winner from the previous season, briefly tied for the lead with a birdie on the 15th hole but was unable to maintain the momentum.
Kim's stellar performance included a crucial 20-foot birdie putt on the 16th hole, extending her lead to two shots. She sealed her wire-to-wire victory with a remarkable 25-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole, finishing at 20-under 268 and claiming her third LPGA title along with a prize of $300,000.
Despite a strong final round of 65, Korda settled for second place, acknowledging the competitive nature of the tournament and expressing satisfaction with her performance. Linn Grant of Sweden secured third place, while Minjee Lee and Jin Young Ko tied for fourth.
Kim, known for her 2020 U.S. Women's Open triumph, demonstrated composure throughout the tournament, never trailing after any round. Her strategic approach and consistent play were evident as she navigated the challenging course at Lake Nona.
In the celebrity division, former NHL player Joe Pavelski clinched victory with 36 points in Stableford scoring, outperforming Jeff McNeil of the New York Mets by a significant margin.
Looking ahead, the LPGA Tour moves to Bradenton Country Club for the Founders Cup next week, where Korda will aim to defend her title from the previous year's Drive On Championship.
