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WATCH: Sei Young Kim drains clutch birdie to win largest single payout in women’s golf history

November 24, 2019

Sei Young Kim opened Sunday 18 holes away from a major payout, and several hours after she teed off to begin the final round of the CME Group Tour Championship, Kim capped the day with a clutch birdie to snag the massive paycheck hanging over her head.

Kim walked-in a birdie putt on the 18th green at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Fla., to win the LPGA season finale and claim the biggest single payout in women’s golf history — a first-place check of $1.5 million of the $5.5 million total purse.

Kim shot a two-under 70 and finished 18 under overall, beating Charley Hull by one and Americans Danielle Kang and Nelly Korda by two.

Kang opened the day at 16 under and one ahead of Korda, and the next closest competitor was four back. But Hull and Kang came charging up the leaderboard. Kang’s hot start (31 on the front) led her to a 65 and 16-under total, and Hull birdied five of the last seven to shoot 66 and take the clubhouse lead at 17 under. Kim stepped to the 18th hole needing a birdie to win or a par to force a playoff — but her putt from about 20 feet snuck in the edge of the cup for the victory.

You can check out Kim’s winning putt below. She’s now the 10th Korean player with at least 10 LPGA Tour victories, joining Inbee Park (19), Se Ri Pak (25) and Jiyai Shin (11).