There are few players week in and week out that are as consistent as Republic of Korea native Hyo Joo Kim. But even though Kim has racked up eight top 10s through the first nine months of the season, that feeling of coming close to a victory but failing to break through is beginning to take its toll as Kim is itching to get back inside the winner’s circle.
The five-time LPGA Tour winner and major champion is well-positioned to do just that this weekend at The Ascendant LPGA benefiting Volunteers of America, where she followed her opening-round 64 with a Friday 68 to remain atop the leaderboard at Old American Golf Club.
“I was at the top of the leaderboard couple times this season but weekend plays haven’t been as good sometimes,” Kim said after her round on Friday, hoping to hoist a trophy this weekend. “This week, I’m hoping to focus more on my play and play as well as I did on the first day and today and finish strong.”
Just as we have seen from Kim this week in Texas, getting off to a solid start is not a problem. It’s maintaining that momentum over the final 36 holes that Kim has struggled with this season. In her 16 starts this year, only five of those events ended with a sub-70 final round, and in the U.S. Women’s Open as well as the AIG Women’s Open, where she opened with two under-par scores, Kim closed with over-par rounds of 74.
“It’s good that I’m on top of the leaderboard often but it’s disappointing that I’m not at the top at the end of the week,” Kim said after her opening round on Thursday. “I really want to stay at the top of the leaderboard after this week’s done.”
The challenge for Kim this weekend in Texas will be closing with two more solid rounds, and it’s not like she doesn’t have the game. She currently leads the Tour in scoring average and is the frontrunner for the Vare Trophy. She also leads the tour in greens in regulation.
Where Kim is lacking, however, is with her putting. She ranks 33rd on Tour in putting average despite leading in greens in regulation. Kim said after her round on Thursday in Texas, in which she had just 21 putts, that she had been playing it safe with her putting, trying too hard to judge the distance and leaving her birdie opportunities well short of the hole.
“As I was practicing, I thought I figured out something so I really focused on that part, so I think yesterday and today, I was able to maintain a good putting stroke and feel,” said Kim, who followed her 21 putts on Thursday with 30 putts on Friday. “My putting stroke wasn’t bad yesterday and today so I think I got a lot of good saves. I hope to limit as many mistakes as possible in the remaining rounds as well.”
Despite the improvement in her short game, Kim wasn’t entirely satisfied with her round on Friday after missing three greens and one fairway. After grabbing a bite to eat for lunch, Kim said she planned to head to the range to put in some practice.
It’s the work ethic of a player who has displayed remarkable consistency all season long, has propelled herself to the top of the Vare Trophy race and is eager to once more get back in the winner’s circle. A place where she has proven she belongs.
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