History will tell us that A. Lim Kim from South Korea won the 2020 Women’s U.S. Open.
She didn’t get the trophy or the $1 million that went with it but co-runner-up Amy Olson won something more important — the hearts of golf fans all over this country.
Olson hasn’t tasted victory on the LPGA Tour yet. She had a great chance on a chilly Monday outside Houston until Kim did the unthinkable — she finished birdie-birdie-birdie to edge Olson and the world’s No. 1 — Jin Young Ko but a single shot on the soggy Cypress Creek course at The Champions.
But it was Olson who showed heart, character and inner strength as she showed up in the final grouping despite the sudden, unexpected death of her father-in-law last Saturday — the eve of what should have been the final round. It was no doubt a difficult Sunday at best for Olson, whose husband Grant had flown in to watch her play the final round. He had to hurry back to North Dakota to handle the grief, sorrow and confusion that comes with an unexpected loss of a family member. And this was no ordinary family member — it was Grant’s father, a veteran and graduate of West Point.
Olson stayed, played and carried on her mission.
Looking back, it was that dreadful, nervous bogey-bogey-bogey start that really cost Amy her first title and a major at that. Three-over after three is no place to be in the final round, in the final group at a U.S. Open. Olson showed us what she’s made of as she pulled herself together and played the final 15 holes in two-under par. As bad as the start was, it was a near-perfect strike with a four-hybrid that cost her as well.
At the 16th, the hole where she made an ace on Thursday when it played just 138 yards, she pulled that hybrid as the hole was playing nearly 170 in 43-degree weather. She caught it perfect, it hit just past the hole but bounded over the green into a testy lie in the dormant Bermuda rough> She made four. Otherwise she would have been three-under for her final 15 holes and perhaps might have forced a playoff with Kim.
Sadly, it didn’t happen for Olson, who is still looking for her first career victory. Her runnerup in this major moved her from 68th to an ultra-respectable 39th in the Rolex World Rankings.
Olson was the only American player with a shot at this one. Nelly Korda, America’s highest ranked player at No. 3, missed the cut and No. 4 Danielle Kang finished so far back you had to go down to those at 12-over par (tied for 52nd) to find her.
No, it was Amy there to carry the red-white-and-blue. And she had to carry the instant shock and sorrow that came with the loss of her father-in-law.
It was the toughest of day’s for Amy. She saw Kim carry off the trophy with a three-under par winning score thanks to an incredible closing 67. As for Amy, her 73 was darn good.
She showed so many great qualities all week but on and off the course, she’s a young lady of faith.
When asked what got her through the round, she simply told us: “It was The Lord.”
And her faith and grit are just two of the great qualities that will carry her into the winner’s circle.
She’s already a winner, that LPGA victory will come in 2021.
No doubt.
One Comment
baxter cepeda
AL Kim was still the story imo.
Olsens Heartbreaking situation absolutely humanized her character; her post round interviews were amazing.
But at the end of the day we are here to celebrate greatness, which is exactly what AL Kim showed, yet the champion wasn’t even mentioned in the headline; as if there weren’t a human behind that mask.
AL KIM is no fluke. She has it ALL.
I admit it took a while to really see it. But man, when it became clear, it really became clear. This Korean lady is the next big thing.
Kim is long. One of the longest in Korea and you can see it. Noticeably strong. Great irons. Not scared but not wreck-less either. I mean If she can hit it like that down the stretch in tough conditions, what will she do most weeks in perfect conditions?
But what really blew my mind—chamblee touched on it—is ALs putting. Ridiculous good putting that was absolutely no fluke. That stroke will eventually be copied like Queen Bees. It’s that great. Imo.
What I believe I noticed and appreciate is how Kim makes sure to release the putter in time, even if it’s a little too early. She makes putts most great players don’t make. That’s exactly how players separate themselves in golf championships.
So, While praying for Olsens family in this tough time, and for Olsen to finally win one, lpga players better pray even harder this latest Korean wonder doesn’t take up membership.
Because AL is No fluke.