Auston Kim Finishes Strong in Career-Best Major Performance

Entering this week at Fields Ranch East, 24-year-old American Auston Kim had yet to finish in the top 25 at a major championship.

But Sunday’s impressive 4-under 68 catapulted her up the board and into the clubhouse lead for a short time before ultimately finishing tied for second with Chanettee Wannasaen at 1-under and three behind winner Minjee Lee.

Kim began Sunday morning nine shots behind Lee, but a clutch opening 4-under 33 on the front nine placed her firmly near the lead the rest of the way.

“I just wanted to chase and get as close as I could up to the top,” Kim said after her round as she finished the back nine with an even par 35. “I knew that the course is hard. I just played my percentages and tried to capitalize on good shots today. I made a lot of good putts, so ended up working out there.”

Though Kim came up a little short of making her first LPGA Tour win a major championship at PGA Frisco, she still looked poised under pressure.

Take her approach shot in the fairway on the par-4 16th, for example. After a long wait and facing heavy winds — with Lee only two ahead at that point — Kim executed a crisply struck iron shot to fifteen feet.

She went on to miss the birdie putt to get within one, an excruciating lip out that caused the 24-year-old to drop her putter in disbelief.

“It was the best putt I possibly could have hit in the moment; it just didn't go in,” Kim said. “I can't get upset about that. It is what it is.”

Considering the situation and pressure she was under, hitting at least an approach shot hole high and into short range on the 70th hole of a major is valuable experience she earned in real-time.

There’s no handbook to read for producing those kinds of shots, and now she’s done it. And with that, there’s understandably a lot of pride in earning her best finish in a major championship to date.

“I'm really proud. I feel like I really enjoyed the competition,” Kim said. “I can't say that I've felt these emotions or really enjoyed myself last year, but all I wanted to do today was enjoy it, enjoy the competition, enjoy competing, feel all the emotions. And I didn't really get super nervous until the last approach, and I'm kind of proud of that. I knew that there was a lot on the line, but I handled my emotions pretty well today and I felt like I regulated everything really well.”

This week marked only the St. Augustine native’s 10th start in a major, and she made the most of a great driving week, leading the field in distance and finishing T2 in Shots Gained: Off the Tee.

“There was obviously a lot on the line today, but I was chasing. I think that definitely helps (and) took a lot of pressure off in the moment,” Kim said. “Overall, today I felt like I handled things really, really well. Stuck to my plan. Stuck to my high percentage play. Stuck to my targets, and it all worked out.”

Speaking of sticking to the plan, Kim just started working in April with renowned PGA coach Rick Sessinghaus (who also coaches 2020 PGA Champ Collin Morikawa), and Sessinghaus said via text Sunday night, “her process goals were about enjoying the competition and the challenge of the event. I really enjoy working with her. She is very dedicated and has a strong work ethic. And I think she is starting to believe in herself.

“I am excited about her future.”

After one of the biggest moments of her pro career on Sunday, the golf world should be excited, too.