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[이데일리 스타in 임정우 기자] “I think I opened my eyes to control the strength and weakness of how I can win.”
Swing coach Kim Ki-hwan, who teaches Kim A-lim (25), said this while watching the scene of being reborn as a major champion at the US Women’s Open. Coach Kim is a helper who helped Kim A-rim, who fell into sluggish after winning the MY Moonyoung Queen’s Park Championship in July last year, to reach the top of the US Women’s Open. Alim Kim has been working with Coach Kim since last June.
On the 15th (Korean time), Alim Kim reached the top with a final total of 3 under par 281 at the US Women’s Open (total prize money of 5.5 million dollars), which ended at the Champions Golf Club Cypress Creek Course (par 71) in Houston, Texas.
Kim A-rim, who was tied for ninth place, five strokes behind Hinako Shibuno (Japan), the sole leader until the third round, showed concentration in reducing four strokes by tying six buddies and two bogies in the final four rounds. He beat Ko Jin-young (25) and Amy Olsen (USA), who were tied for second place, by one stroke to complete the reverse win. The five-stroke turn over is the tie record for winning the tournament’s most at-bats reversal.
The decisive role in winning the championship was the three consecutive birdies from holes 16-18. Kim A-rim scored in the last three holes, and all the final blows aimed at pursuing the lead were connected by birdies, and Kim A-rim contributed a great deal to reaching the top.
The most eye-catching play is Kim A-lim’s tee shots for holes 17 and 18. As long hitting is a trademark of Kim A-rim, he expected that he would choose a driver to catch a birdie. However, Kim Alim chose the 3 wood and hybrid, not the driver. He put the ball on the fairway at any distance he wanted, then played with an iron shot and putt. The result was perfect. In the 17th and 18th holes, each of them reduced 1 stroke to mark a long match.
Coach Kim said, “When I was aiming for a birdie, seeing the tee shot as a hybrid with the 3rd wood instead of a driver, I felt that I was skilled.” I think I realized that I did it.”
Coach Kim added that for the four days this tournament was held, a lot of attention was paid to achieving a certain backswing size with Kim A-rim. Kim Alim doesn’t think of swinging complicated in practice. I try to keep some important points. The thing to always check before taking a shot is to keep the swing size constant.
Coach Kim said, “When the swing gets bigger than usual, the rhythm breaks and the probability of getting the shot you want decreases, so I tried to swing without being overwhelmed.” I think that I was able to reach the top of this competition because I didn’t come up with a habit that I didn’t have.”
Alim Kim, who became the fifth player to compete in the US Women’s Open for the first time with strength and weakness control, was awarded $1 million in prize money. In addition, he was Se-ri Park (1998), Joo-yeon Kim (2005), In-bi Park (2008/2013), Eun-hee Ji (2009), So-yeon Yoo (2011), Na-yeon Choi (2012), In-Jeon Jeon (2015), and Seong-Hyun Park (2017). Year), and Lee Jung-eun (2019), he was named as the 11th (10th) winner of the US Women’s Open in Korea.
With this victory, Kim A-rim will be able to receive a direct ticket to be active on the LPGA tour from next year. You can decide whether to join a member within two weeks and inform the LPGA. After Yoo So-yeon (2011) and Jeon In-ji (2015), the third Korean player who is a non-LPGA Tour member won the US Women’s Open.
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