"I didn't even know my ranking," Kim Hyo-ju, who overturned a three-shot deficit to claim the victory... Lotte Open champion secures 'second win of the season'

*This content was translated by AI.

After returning to the domestic stage for the first time in two months, Kim Hyo-ju (Lotte) secured a thrilling comeback victory and joined the ranks of multiple-time winners on the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) tour.

On the 5th, at the final fourth round of the 16th Lotte Open KLPGA Tour held at Bears Best Cheongna Golf Club in Seo-gu, Incheon, Kim shot a 5-under-par 67 with no bogeys and five birdies.

Finishing with a total score of 15-under-par 273, Kim climbed four spots from the previous day to claim the championship trophy and a prize money of 216 million won.

According to the KLPGA, Kim Hyo-ju shared her thoughts on the victory: "After the first round, I spoke with my sister and mentioned that I was feeling physically drained. However, since my niece was coming from Friday, I decided to give her a wonderful memory as a gift, so I am truly happy to be able to finish by holding the championship trophy."

Regarding the tight lead battle in the final round, she said, "Every time I checked the leaderboard, only other players' names appeared besides mine, so I played without knowing my exact ranking until the end. It seems that not having any distracting thoughts and focusing solely on my shots helped me stay less tense."

This season, Kim Hyo-ju has competed in 10 LPGA Tour events, securing two wins and currently holding the third spot in the world rankings. With four victories achieved across both major tours this year, she is now aiming to break her personal record of five wins in a single season set in 2014. Kim expressed strong confidence, stating, "I believe it is entirely possible, and I am confident enough to surpass that record because I feel that mentally and in terms of golf skills, I have matured significantly more than I did in 2014."

When asked about the secret to her endurance and performance, she cited physical strength. Kim explained, "As time goes on, I realize the need for stronger muscles, so I started training with heavy weightlifting and pull-ups. Only when my physical condition is fully supported can I maintain the sharp swing I desire until the end and keep my mental fortitude strong in critical situations."

Having perfectly tuned her shot feel on domestic soil, Kim Hyo-ju will now travel to France to compete in the AIG Women's Open at Evian Championship, which begins on the 10th. Although she expressed concern about being tired and exhausted due to a tight schedule, she vowed, "Competing in this domestic tournament has restored my confidence that my shot feel has returned, so I will take time to rest fully, recover my condition, and show you my best performance."

Meanwhile, Park Ye-ji, who held sole lead through the third round, finished with a total score of 14-under-par 273, securing second place in a tie for second.

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*This content was translated by AI.