‘It sucks’: Aussie gun blows huge lead
‘It sucks’: Aussie gun blows huge lead
Aussie young gun Grace Kim conceded the “the nerves kicked in” after letting slip a five-shot lead in regulation and three more playoff hole chances in her quest for a second LPGA title in just 18 months on tour.
Kim lost on the third hole of a playoff against two major champions, including the reigning player of the year, to finish runner-up at the Meijer LPGA Classic.
It was the second time this year Kim, 23, lost a big lead having been in front by four shots at the halfway mark of the LA Championship in April before fellow Australian Hannah Green came over the top to win.
Kim’s five-shot buffer was also the biggest third-round lead of the year.
But she opened with two bogeys to start her fourth round and the lead was gone inside four holes as the chasers came after her. A crucial, lone back-nine birdie was enough to get Kim into a playoff with former world No.1 Lilia Vu and Lexi Thompson, who has announced this will be her last year on tour.
All three made clutch putts to birdie the first two playoff holes, both at the par-5 18th.