Évian-les-Bains, France– In a dramatic and sensational conclusion to the Evian Championship on Sunday, Australian Grace Kim clinched her first major title, overcoming world No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand in a tension-filled play-off. The 24-year-old’s victory at the Evian Resort Golf Club in Évian-les-Bains, France, capped off a remarkable performance defined by clutch shots and unwavering composure.
A Final Round Rollercoaster
Kim began the final round of the Amundi Evian Championship level with Thitikul and just one shot behind overnight co-leaders Cara Gainer and Gabriela Ruffels. While Gainer and Ruffels slid down the leaderboard, Kim endured a rollercoaster of a round herself, recovering from two early bogeys with an eagle and two birdies around the turn. However, a double bogey on the 12th put her on the back foot, forcing her to play catch-up against Thitikul down the stretch.
Showing incredible resilience, Kim surged back, picking up four strokes over the final four holes to pull level with Thitikul at 14-under par. This late charge included a pivotal eagle on the 18th hole, where she incredibly stuffed her approach shot to within a foot of the pin. Thitikul, who had been in a commanding position, narrowly missed a birdie putt on the 72nd hole that would have sealed her victory, sending the championship into a sudden-death play-off.
Play-off Drama: Miracles and Eagles
The play-off delivered edge-of-your-seat drama. On the first extra hole (the 18th), Kim found herself in deep trouble after an errant second shot landed in the water hazard. Her hopes looked all but doomed, but in a moment of pure magic, she miraculously chipped in for an improbable birdie from the penalty area, sending a roar through the crowd. Thitikul, displaying her own nerves of steel, then sank a crucial birdie putt to extend the play-off to a second extra hole.
Returning to the 18th for the second time in the play-off, Kim once again found her magic touch. She snatched the title with another stunning eagle, denying Thitikul her maiden major despite the Thai golfer’s consistent performance throughout the week.
The triumph earned Kim a winner’s cheque worth $1.2 million and cemented her place as the third consecutive first-time major champion at the Evian, following Ayaka Furue and Celine Boutier. This marks only Kim’s second career win, her first being at the Lotte Championship in Hawaii two years prior, making this major victory a truly monumental achievement in her burgeoning career.
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