South Korea’s Kim In-Kyung held her nerve and finally claimed her first major title with a final round 71 at the Women’s British Open at Kingsbarns yesterday.  Six ahead at the start of the day, the 29-year-old looked to be in easy street when she moved seven in front after a tap-in birdie at the par three opening hole. But she then had to fend off the chasing pack.
Michelle Wie was the first to attack with four birdies in a row from the fourth and then Jodi Ewart Shadoff — with a course record-equalling 64 — did her best to knock Kim off her stride. Just two ahead with four holes to play, the slightly-built Korean, reeled off the par figures to secure the trophy by two shots on 18 under par 270.
At the 2012 ANA Inspiration, Kim had a one foot putt at the final hole to win her first major. But she missed, and went on to lose in a play-off to fellow South Korean Yoo Sun-Young. She also finished runner-up in the 2012 US Women’s Open, so the first major victory was long overdue.
Ewart Shadoff had a birdie at the second, five in a row from the sixth and then more at the 13th and horrendously tough 17th, and then it was a case of wait and see. In the end, she had to settle for second place on 16 under par.
“In these conditions I couldn’t have asked for anything better,” said the 29-year-old Briton. “The weather was tough and not to drop a shot was pretty special. I had a lot of confidence in my putting. I’ve never really played well at links courses, but I played in the Scottish Open last week at Dundonald and that really helped. Now I’m excited about the Solheim Cup.”
Wie closed with a 66 and a 13 under par total. She shared third place with Germany’s Carolina Masson (67) and England’s Georgia Hall (70).
But the day belonged to Kim. Her solid final round contained two birdies — the first and eight — and the solitary bogey at the ninth ended a remarkable run of 43 holes without a dropped shot. Sophie Lamb, a 19-year-old English player, won the Smyth Salver for the best amateur. She shot a 69 for six under par — just the confidence boost she wanted as she looks forward to turning professional at the end of 2018.