Park Sung-hyun claims second major title in sudden death playoff

Park Sung-hyun raised her arms in jubilation and the tears began to fall.

Heading into Sunday’s final round of the Women’s PGA Championship four shots off the lead, the South Korean eventually emerged from a playoff with a second major title.

It has been a troublesome 2018 for the 24-year-old, who set the golf world alight last year to become the first ever LPGA Tour rookie to top the world rankings.

Park had failed to make the cut at five of the 12 events she’d played this season, looking a shadow of her former self heading to the Kemper Lakes Golf Club in Illinois this week.

A tearful Park embraces her caddie on the second playoff hole after winning the 2018 KPMG Women's PGA Championship.

So it was an understandable moment of relief, then, when her 10-foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole found the mark, seeing off compatriot So Yeon Ryu.

“Actually, this is my first time feeling this kind of emotion, being this emotional,” said Park via an interpreter, admitting she was overwhelmed by happiness once victory was secured.

“It’s been a tough year for me. I feel like all the work I’ve put in has paid off today, and that’s really what made me cry. I still can’t believe I’m sitting here, next to this trophy.”

READ: The search for a male South Korean major champion

Nerves of steel

Park was consistent when it counted and didn’t make a single bogey over the last 30 holes of the tournament.

And her nerves were given a thorough test at the 16th hole on Sunday.

Park plays a remarkable shot from the water's edge on the 16th hole during the final round.

After a misguided approach shot came up short, Park found herself in real trouble with her ball obscured by high grass just inches from the water.

Lesser golfers would have deemed it unplayable but the 2017 US Open champion didn’t enjoy such a stellar debut season by chance.

Wading into the grass with club in hand, Park scythed through the greenery and produced a barely believable up and down.

“It was my first time doing that kind of shot,” said Park. “I talked a lot with David my caddie and, since there was no water below, that gave me the confidence to pull off the shot.”

She celebrated with the smallest of fist pumps. Just a few hours later, Park was walking off the course $547,500 richer.

Park celebrates with the trophy after winning the KPMG Women's PGA Championship.

READ: South Korea’s golfing women - ‘You’re either a champion, or nothing’

South Korean dominance

But while clubhouse leaders Park and Ryu awaited their playoff tied at 10-under-par, Japanese teenager Nasa Hataoka almost rewrote the script, coming from nowhere with a final round 64 to join them in the sudden-death shootout.

Park (R) hugs compatriot So Yeon Ryu after making a birdie to beat her on the second playoff hole.

Hataoka ultimately fell at the first playoff hole, a flat ending to a day that had started with her nine strokes off the lead.

Further down the leaderboard, two-time major champion Lydia Ko shot a second-round 66 but saw her hopes of contending falter when she followed that up with a 73 and final-day 76, ultimately finishing up tied for 31st.

Ryu was sporting in defeat, congratulating her opponent and insisting “one day I want to lift that trophy.”

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Yet after a difficult year, it was Park’s day. South Korean women have now won 16 of the past 32 major tournaments.