It took an even-par round of golf for Eun-Hee Ji to snatch the U.S. Women's Open crown from Candie Kung. What's more, she did it in dramatic fashion on the 72nd hole. Ji, 23, converted a 20-foot, lagging putt for birdie that left Kung, in the clubhouse, disappointed.
Ji won her first major shooting level-par 284, nipping Kung by one stroke. Cristie Kerr, who started the day in the lead, struggled to a 75. In-Kyung Kim, co-share of the lead until bogeying the 18th hole, tied Kerr at 2-over 286.
"I was extremely nervous before the last putt," said Ji through a translator. "I am still extremely nervous.
"I told myself the worst-case scenario is to go into a playoff. I was at ease and it went in."
Ji became the fourth Korean-born player to win in the last 11 years. She was the first woman to win in her second attempt since 1998, which incidentally was won by Korean Se Ri Pak.
When Ji birdied, she became the first player since Lauri Merten (1993) to win by one stroke with a birdie on the 72nd hole. When the ball dropped, she bear-hugged caddie Zac Austin.
Kung, the 2001 U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links champion, had been sequestered inside the clubhouse watching on TV. She held the lead for four holes down the stretch (Nos. 13-16). Kung capped off the 2-under 69 round with a par on No. 18. Never did she look at the scoreboard during the day.
"I did not know at all," said Kung when asked if she knew she had held the lead.
As much as the championship will be remembered for an exciting finish, ala Birdie Kim holing out from a bunker in 2005 on the 72nd hole, Kerr might one day recall this day when her putter betrayed her. She took 35 putts that left her bewildered. Kerr said she couldn't get comfortable with the green speeds.
Kerr had entered the round with a two-stroke margin on Ji. After her round Saturday, Kerr said she felt confident. And why not? Kerr has a mental toughness unlike many other players, and besides, she had the experience of having won a Women's Open crown on her side. However, she cited too many "mental errors" that led to her demise.
On the 16th hole, Kerr had positioned herself for a par. The 12-foot putt navigated the bumpy green, picking up speed. She eventually three-putted for bogey and could never catch Ji or Kung.
"It was a little disappointing," said Kerr. "I tried my heart out. I left it all out there today."
Ji receives the winner's prize of $585,000.
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