South Korean golfer Hyo Joo Kim delivered a spectacular final-round performance at the Ford Championship in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/arizona">Arizona</a>, firing an 8-under 64 to force a playoff before edging out <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/lilia-vu" rel="dofollow">Lilia Vu</a> for her seventh LPGA Tour title. Kim&rsquo;s victory, her first since October 2023, came after a dramatic battle that showcased her resilience, precision, and nerves of steel under pressure.
Kim started the final round trailing but quickly climbed the leaderboard with an impressive display of shot-making. She recorded nine birdies and a single bogey, finishing at 22-under-par 266. Her crucial birdie on the par-5 18th hole secured a place in a sudden-death playoff against Vu, who had led for much of the tournament. Vu, the reigning Chevron Championship winner, carded a 2-under 70 but couldn&rsquo;t hold off Kim&rsquo;s relentless charge.
The playoff was contested on the par-4 18th hole, where both players reached the green in two. Kim, demonstrating her poise under pressure, drained a clutch birdie putt, while Vu settled for par, securing Kim&rsquo;s first LPGA victory in 17 months.
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&ldquo;I think focusing through the end today was important,&rdquo; Kim said after her win. &ldquo;I am very happy since this is my first win in 17 months, and I feel accomplished as I proved that I am still competent.&rdquo;
<h2 data-start="1265" data-end="1468">Consistent Kim</h2>
With this triumph, Kim earned a $337,500 prize from the tournament&rsquo;s $2.25 million purse. The win also places her among an elite group of South Korean golfers with at least seven LPGA titles, including Park Sung-hyun, Kim In-kyung, and Ko Jin-young.
Kim&rsquo;s consistent play in 2025 has been noteworthy, with three top-10 finishes in her first five LPGA events. She also became the second South Korean to win on the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/lpga-tour">LPGA Tour</a> this season, following Kim A-lim&rsquo;s victory at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions in February.
Other notable South Korean performances at the Ford Championship included Lee Mi-hyang tying for sixth, Kim A-lim finishing 13th, and LPGA rookie Yoon Ina achieving her best finish by tying for 22nd.
The 2025 LPGA season has been highly competitive, with six different winners in the first six tournaments. The season continues with the T-Mobile Match Play presented by MGM Rewards in Nevada, followed by the first major of the year, the Chevron Championship, set for April 24 in Texas.
Kim&rsquo;s victory at the Ford Championship not only reinforces her status as a top competitor but also sets the stage for an exciting year ahead on the LPGA Tour.
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports: Hyo Joo Kim, the South Korean star showcased her resilience and precision under pressure, securing her first LPGA Tour victory of the season

South Korean golfer Hyo Joo Kim delivered a spectacular final-round performance at the Ford Championship in Arizona, firing an 8-under 64 to force a playoff before edging out Lilia Vu for her seventh LPGA Tour title. Kim’s victory, her first since October 2023, came after a dramatic battle that showcased her resilience, precision, and nerves of steel under pressure. Kim started the final round trailing but quickly climbed the leaderboard with an impressive display of shot-making. She recorded nine birdies and a single bogey, finishing at 22-under-par 266. Her crucial birdie on the par-5 18th hole secured a place in a sudden-death playoff against Vu, who had led for much of the tournament. Vu, the reigning Chevron Championship winner, carded a 2-under 70 but couldn’t hold off Kim’s relentless charge. The playoff was contested on the par-4 18th hole, where both players reached the green in two. Kim, demonstrating her poise under pressure, drained a clutch birdie putt, while Vu settled for par, securing Kim’s first LPGA victory in 17 months. Also Read: NBA: Mitchell steals show as Cavs beat Clippers, double blow for Suns as Durant gets injured amid loss to Rockets “I think focusing through the end today was important,” Kim said after her win. “I am very happy since this is my first win in 17 months, and I feel accomplished as I proved that I am still competent.” Consistent Kim With this triumph, Kim earned a $337,500 prize from the tournament’s $2.25 million purse. The win also places her among an elite group of South Korean golfers with at least seven LPGA titles, including Park Sung-hyun, Kim In-kyung, and Ko Jin-young. Kim’s consistent play in 2025 has been noteworthy, with three top-10 finishes in her first five LPGA events. She also became the second South Korean to win on the LPGA Tour this season, following Kim A-lim’s victory at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions in February. Other notable South Korean performances at the Ford Championship included Lee Mi-hyang tying for sixth, Kim A-lim finishing 13th, and LPGA rookie Yoon Ina achieving her best finish by tying for 22nd. The 2025 LPGA season has been highly competitive, with six different winners in the first six tournaments. The season continues with the T-Mobile Match Play presented by MGM Rewards in Nevada, followed by the first major of the year, the Chevron Championship, set for April 24 in Texas. Kim’s victory at the Ford Championship not only reinforces her status as a top competitor but also sets the stage for an exciting year ahead on the LPGA Tour. (With inputs from agencies)

Hyo Joo Kim rallies with stunning 64, defeats Lilia Vu in playoff to clinch LPGA Ford Championship

American Lilia Vu&nbsp;won her first major title on Sunday, defeating compatriot Angel Yin with a birdie on the first playoff hole to capture the LPGA Chevron Championship.

In the year's first women's golf major, Vu and Yin each finished 72 holes on 10-under par 278 on the Jack Nicklaus Signature course at The Woodlands near Houston, Texas.

Vu, who birdied 17 and 18 to grab the clubhouse lead, was forced to extra holes when Yin birdied 18 as well.

But Yin found water on her approach in the playoff and Vu sank a tension-packed 14-foot birdie putt for the victory.

"I can't even put into words what I was feeling," Vu said. "I was nervous. I was scared. I was cold. I just wanted to hit the putt and just be done with it.

"I just saw my line and speed -- I knew it was going to be a fast putt -- and trusted myself."

Moments after making the winning putt, Vu followed a tournament tradition that began at its former home in California of jumping into water, taking her plunge into the same chilly greenside lake where Yin's ball sank earlier.

"I had a tough, not easy, past two days," Vu said. "I was definitely my own enemy. I don't know how I pulled this out. I'm just really happy and proud."

Vu fired a four-under 68 and set the score to beat. Yin unraveled with bogeys at 16 and 17 but sank a six-foot birdie putt at the par-5 18th to shoot 72 and force the playoff.

Vu had considered giving up golf years before, but said after the win that, "everything happens for a reason," and for all the bad things she has faced, "I think of myself as the biggest obstacle."

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World number 12 Vu won the $765,000 top prize in only her ninth major start. The 25-year-old American won her first LPGA title in February at Thailand and becomes the tour's first multi-event winner this year.

She became the 21st player to claim her first major title at the event.

World number 172 Yin, in only her third LPGA start of 2023, hadn't managed a top-10 LPGA finish since sharing third in last May's Founders Cup.

But the 24-year-old from Los Angeles had been the 2019 US Women's Open runner-up and took a Ladies European Tour victory at Dubai in 2017.

"I feel like I felt when I started the round," Yin said. "Not much has changed other than I lost. Just happy with how I am playing.

"Today just wasn't hitting it very good and 16 and 17 was just bad club decision, bad club decision and bad mindset on 16 off the tee."

<h2>Vu began four adrift</h2>

Playing in cool and windy conditions, Vu was four adrift of co-leader Yin when the round began.

Vu birdied the second and par-3 third and added another at the par-5 eighth before stumbling with her lone bogey to close the front nine. She followed seven pars with birdies at 17 and 18.

Yin birdied the par-5 13th to seize the lead alone at 11-under, one ahead of Thailand's Atthaya Thitikul, who closed with a double bogey to fall out of contention.

Yin landed a pressure chip inches from the hole to set up a par at 14 and but stumbled late, finding a fairway bunker at 16 and missing a six-foot par putt then landing in a bunker on the way to a bogey at the par-3 17th, forcing her to birdie the 18th just to force a playoff.

Yin went six feet past the hole on a long eagle putt but made the comeback effort.

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American Lilia Vu won her first major title on Sunday, defeating compatriot Angel Yin with a birdie on the first playoff hole to capture the LPGA Chevron Championship.

American Lilia Vu won her first major title on Sunday, defeating compatriot Angel Yin with a birdie on the first playoff hole to capture the LPGA Chevron Championship. In the year's first women's golf major, Vu and Yin each finished 72 holes on 10-under par 278 on the Jack Nicklaus Signature course at The Woodlands near Houston, Texas. Vu, who birdied 17 and 18 to grab the clubhouse lead, was forced to extra holes when Yin birdied 18 as well. But Yin found water on her approach in the playoff and Vu sank a tension-packed 14-foot birdie putt for the victory. "I can't even put into words what I was feeling," Vu said. "I was nervous. I was scared. I was cold. I just wanted to hit the putt and just be done with it. "I just saw my line and speed -- I knew it was going to be a fast putt -- and trusted myself." Moments after making the winning putt, Vu followed a tournament tradition that began at its former home in California of jumping into water, taking her plunge into the same chilly greenside lake where Yin's ball sank earlier. "I had a tough, not easy, past two days," Vu said. "I was definitely my own enemy. I don't know how I pulled this out. I'm just really happy and proud." Vu fired a four-under 68 and set the score to beat. Yin unraveled with bogeys at 16 and 17 but sank a six-foot birdie putt at the par-5 18th to shoot 72 and force the playoff. Vu had considered giving up golf years before, but said after the win that, "everything happens for a reason," and for all the bad things she has faced, "I think of myself as the biggest obstacle." Also Read: World number 1 Iga Swiatek claims her successive Stuttgart Open title, beats Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets World number 12 Vu won the $765,000 top prize in only her ninth major start. The 25-year-old American won her first LPGA title in February at Thailand and becomes the tour's first multi-event winner this year. She became the 21st player to claim her first major title at the event. World number 172 Yin, in only her third LPGA start of 2023, hadn't managed a top-10 LPGA finish since sharing third in last May's Founders Cup. But the 24-year-old from Los Angeles had been the 2019 US Women's Open runner-up and took a Ladies European Tour victory at Dubai in 2017. "I feel like I felt when I started the round," Yin said. "Not much has changed other than I lost. Just happy with how I am playing. "Today just wasn't hitting it very good and 16 and 17 was just bad club decision, bad club decision and bad mindset on 16 off the tee." Vu began four adrift Playing in cool and windy conditions, Vu was four adrift of co-leader Yin when the round began. Vu birdied the second and par-3 third and added another at the par-5 eighth before stumbling with her lone bogey to close the front nine. She followed seven pars with birdies at 17 and 18. Yin birdied the par-5 13th to seize the lead alone at 11-under, one ahead of Thailand's Atthaya Thitikul, who closed with a double bogey to fall out of contention. Yin landed a pressure chip inches from the hole to set up a par at 14 and but stumbled late, finding a fairway bunker at 16 and missing a six-foot par putt then landing in a bunker on the way to a bogey at the par-3 17th, forcing her to birdie the 18th just to force a playoff. Yin went six feet past the hole on a long eagle putt but made the comeback effort. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Golf: American Lilia Vu wins first major title with LPGA Chevron Championship victory

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Hyo Joo Kim rallies with stunning 64, defeats Lilia Vu in playoff to clinch LPGA Ford Championship

Golf: American Lilia Vu wins first major title with LPGA Chevron Championship victory