Playoff master Kim claims Mediheal win

Tuesday, 7 May 2019 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Reuters: Kim Sei-young birdied the first extra hole to win the LPGA Mediheal Championship in San Francisco on Sunday and improved her perfect playoff record to 4-0.

Kim overcame a dreadful start to the final round -- a double-bogey at the first hole followed by a bogey at the next -- and bided her time before coming through at the end for her eighth victory on the LPGA Tour.

DALY CITY, CALIFORNIA – Sei Young Kim of South Korea poses with the trophy after winning the LPGA Mediheal Championships at Lake Merced Golf Club on 5 May in Daly City, California - Getty Images/AFP

A tap-in birdie at the par-five 18th for a three-over-par 75 lifted her into a three-way playoff with fellow South Korean Lee Jeong-eun and England’s Bronte Law at Lake Merced.

Kim then birdied the same hole in the playoff, sinking a three-footer after her two rivals had missed from about double that distance.

“It was really frustrating, starting really bad,” 25-year-old Kim told Golf Channel. “Even then I try to keep going and focus.” “My position is last group so all day I’ve got a lot of pressure.” Law had threatened to pull off a comeback for the ages after starting the day 10 strokes behind Kim.

She eagled the par-five 15th, shot 65, and then waited for a couple of hours to see if her score would be good enough.

It almost was, but first Lee came in with a 67, before Kim matched them both at seven-under 281.