In an exciting golf day, Jin Hee Im and Somi Lee, representatives of South Korea, won the Dow Championship. The triumph came after an intense playoff, where Im achieved a crucial birdie from eight feet away, frustrating the aspirations of Lexi Thompson, who was seeking her first title on the LPGA Tour in six years. The Thompson and Megan Khang pairing had a chance to extend the playoff, but Khang missed a five-foot birdie putt. Thompson, with a birdie from eight feet on the 18th hole, and Khang, with a birdie attempt from six feet, culminated their participation with an impressive 60 under par in the fourballs format, setting a score of 20 under par, totaling 260. Lee, for his part, holed a ten-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole, tying the score. Both Im and Lee had birdie opportunities on the 18th hole during regulation, but failed to convert them. The tiebreaker moved to the foursomes format. Thompson placed his tee shot on the 18th hole just five feet from the hole. Lee approached the pin, but was eight feet away, setting the stage for Im’s winning putt.
It’s a shame to miss the last putt in the playoff to force another hole, but I’m very happy with how we played.
Megan Khang
Lindy Duncan and Miranda Wang, with a 59 in the better-ball format, tied for third place, two strokes off the playoff, alongside Manon De Roey and Pauline Roussin-Bouchard, who achieved a 64. Albane Valenzuela and Sarah Schmelzel, leaders after 54 holes, finished in fifth position, three strokes behind the winners, after a closing round of 66 and failing to make birdies in the last seven holes. Thompson has not indicated when she will compete again. The next event on the LPGA schedule is the Evian Championship in France, a major that Thompson has skipped since 2019. The Dow Championship is the only official team event on the LPGA schedule.I can’t believe it.
Somi Lee
