Overview
- Hyo Joo Kim closed with a 3-under 69 on Sunday in Phoenix to finish 28-under 260 and retain the Ford Championship by two over Nelly Korda.
- The 30-year-old set the LPGA 54-hole scoring record at 25-under 191 after opening with 61 and 69, then added another 61 in the third round.
- A pulled tee shot led to a double bogey on the eighth that ended her chase of the 72-hole record of 257, yet birdies at 10 and 12 rebuilt a four-shot cushion.
- Nelly Korda posted 67 with two eagles and an eagle-birdie finish, yet short misses on the ninth and 15th stalled her charge and left her at 26-under 262.
- The win is Kim’s ninth on the LPGA, her first successful title defense and first multi-win season, paid $337,500, and projects a rise toward world No. 3 ahead of the Chevron Championship.