Grace Kim is aware of only a little bit of “higher luck” could possibly be the distinction in turning her playoff despair final weekend right into a breakthrough main success on the ladies’s PGA Championship, the place the world’s finest are vying for one more file purse.
The 23-year-old Sydneysider fought off tears within the aftermath of her heartbreaking loss on the LPGA occasion in Michigan, the place Kim gave up a five-shot lead earlier than shedding to former world No.1 Lilia Vu on the third gap of sudden-death.
Kim isn’t alone in giving up leads this season both, with compatriot Minjee Lee, a two-time main champion, having misplaced a two-shot lead when a second US Open trophy appeared hers for the taking.
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The duo will likely be amongst eight Australians teeing it up at Sahalee Nation Membership close to Seattle, the place the prize pool has been bumped by $600,000 to greater than $15.5m.
It’s the largest contingent of Australians, male or feminine, at any main this season, with Hannah Inexperienced, the 2019 PGA champion who has received twice this season, paired with world No.1 Nelly Korda for the opening two rounds.
Gabriela Ruffels, the LPGA Tour rookie-of-the-year factors chief, Steph Kyriacou, Hira Naveed, Robyn Choi and Sarah Kemp spherical out the Australian contingent in Seattle.
The brief turnaround time from final week’s let-down means Kim will get a right away likelihood to redeem herself and having jumped 17 locations on the planet rankings after her second-placed end, is adamant her recreation is properly positioned. She simply wants issues to go her means.
“I do know I’m hitting it good, doing all the precise issues. Simply issues should form of go my means as properly,” she stated.
“It’s not nearly hitting good pictures. It’s about higher luck as properly.
“I do know it’s going to be a course that I’m going to love. Yeah, actually trying ahead to it and hopefully try to do it once more.”
Kim is seeing the structure at Sahalee Nation Membership for the primary time and must deal with a fired-up Korda, who has missed back-to-back cuts, a rarity for a participant who has dominated like few others up to now in 2024.
Korda stated she hadn’t acquired misplaced in her current downturn.
“You may dwell on the negatives, however that can by no means lead you anyplace, so that you attempt it have a look at the positives,” she stated.
“I really feel like stress is privilege, and that’s one thing that you simply’re the one one that may form of management that. You may hearken to the skin voices, however on the finish of the day, when you could have stress you’ll be able to take it in a constructive means that you’re doing good and enjoying properly.
“I’m simply going to remain in my bubble this week and exit and attempt to execute my pictures, be assured in what I’ve. This golf course is already onerous sufficient, and if I’m going to place extra stress on myself, then I believe it’s simply going to make it even tougher this week.”
AUSTRALIANS AT THE PGA CHAMPIONSHIP
Hannah Inexperienced, Minjee Lee, Grace Kim, Gabriela Ruffels, Steph Kyriacou, Hira Naveed, Robyn Choi, Sarah Kemp.