Grace Kim wins Evian Championship with dramatic finish, including in playoff

The Evian Championship is full of artistry.

It is hard for art to not happen what with France playing host to the fourth major championship of the season for the LPGA, but inspiration was clearly out to be found on the ground and specifically so by the tournament’s winner in Grace Kim.

Jeeno Thitikul, winner of the Mizuho Americas Open earlier this season, looked to be the winner of this whole thing before Kim turned on the jets near the finish. She was on absolute fire over her last six holes, including the playoff against Jeeno: Birdie, Birdie, Par, Eagle, Birdie, Eagle.

The two playoff holes both took place at 18, a par 5 that invited scoring opportunities. Things appeared to be looking grim for Grace on the first playing of it after she had to take a drop, but then she chipped in to make birdie and send things to a second playing of the hole. She made good by making eagle to win.

It doesn’t get any more dramatic than this. Consider the stakes once more in that Grace was facing a dire situation with Jeeno appearing to on the verge of birdie (which she did make). To have this go in after getting hot to force a playoff in the first place... sometimes it is just your day.

Kim is an Australian and her win marked a serious achievement for the land down under. With Minjee Lee having won the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship this is now officially the first time that Australians have won multiple majors in a single season on either the professional men’s or women’s tours. For what it’s worth Karrie Webb won multiple majors herself in both 2000 and 2001.

Needless to say the final round was incredible at the Evian. Well done by Grace Kim.