Grace Kim has etched her name into golf history, becoming a major champion in the most dramatic fashion possible at the 2025 Amundi Evian Championship. The 24-year-old Australian’s journey from a devastating early-career disappointment at this very tournament to claiming her first major title represents one of the most compelling redemption stories in recent golf memory.
A Playoff for the Ages
The defining moment of Grace Kim’s career unfolded in spectacular fashion on Sunday at Evian Resort Golf Club in France. After forcing a playoff with a clutch eagle on the 18th hole in regulation, Kim found herself locked in battle with Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul, the world’s second-ranked player. What followed was a masterclass in mental fortitude and shot-making under the ultimate pressure.
Kim’s path to victory seemed unlikely when her approach shot on the first playoff hole sailed right of the green, forcing her to take an unplayable lie next to a retaining wall. Looking dejected as she dropped her ball, Kim faced what appeared to be certain defeat. Instead, she delivered one of the shots of the year, chipping directly into the hole for birdie to extend the playoff.
“Grace Kim are you KIDDING?!” the LPGA Tour’s official social media account exclaimed as the miraculous shot found the bottom of the cup. The chip-in forced Thitikul to make her own birdie putt just to keep the playoff alive, setting the stage for an epic conclusion.
The Championship-Winning Eagle
Playing the 18th hole for the third consecutive time, Grace Kim saved her best for last. After both players found the fairway, Kim’s approach shot set up a makeable eagle putt. With nerves of steel, she rolled in the eagle to claim her first major championship and the $1.2 million winner’s check.
The victory was particularly sweet given Kim’s previous struggles at Evian. During her rookie year in 2023, she shot 80 in the second round and missed the cut, later admitting “I cried” after that disappointing performance. Her transformation from that low point to major champion in just two years showcases remarkable resilience and growth.
Breaking Through in Historic LPGA Season
Grace Kim’s Evian Championship victory came during one of the most remarkable seasons in LPGA Tour history. The 2025 campaign has featured unprecedented parity, with Kim becoming the 18th different winner in 18 events to start the season. This streak of different winners represents the longest in the LPGA’s 75-year history, surpassing the previous record of 15 different winners set in both 1991 and 2017.
The depth of talent on display this season has been extraordinary, with winners representing eight different countries. Kim joins fellow Australians among the international champions who have shared the spotlight in what many are calling the most competitive LPGA season ever witnessed.
“It’s just golf,” reigning world No. 1 Nelly Korda said earlier this season when asked about the increased competition. “The competition is getting better and better every year. To win once, to win twice, it’s really good.” Korda herself remains winless in 2025, highlighting just how difficult victories have become on tour.
From Sydney to Major Champion
Grace Kim’s journey to major championship glory began at Avondale Golf Club in Sydney, where she first picked up golf clubs as a young child. Her amateur career was decorated with achievements, including winning the 2021 Australian Amateur Championship where she dominated the field with a seven-stroke victory at Kooyonga Golf Club.
“I can just see lines to the back of the cup,” Kim explained after that amateur triumph, displaying the putting confidence that would later prove crucial in her major championship victory. “I’m just making sure the speed is right.”
Her transition to professional golf came in 2021, and she quickly made her mark by winning on the Epson Tour before earning her LPGA Tour card. Kim’s breakthrough victory came at the 2023 Lotte Championship in Hawaii, where she won in just her third start as an LPGA Tour member, defeating fellow Australians Hannah Green and Minjee Lee in a playoff.
The Pressure of Expectations
Following her early LPGA success, Grace Kim faced the challenge of managing expectations and establishing consistency. The 2024 season proved to be a learning experience, with Kim making 22 cuts from 28 starts but struggling to recapture her winning form. She finished the year with eight top-25 finishes, including a runner-up showing at the Meijer LPGA Classic.
“I was just speaking to my coach, and 2023 and 2024 were very similar in performance,” Kim reflected earlier this year. “Obviously, the win just made it a bit better… Sorry – more than a bit better.” Her honesty about the challenges of tour life and the pressure to repeat early success has resonated with fans and fellow professionals.
Kim has been particularly candid about the mental aspects of professional golf. “When I do feel down, I use that to say, ‘I do belong out here and I can get it done,'” she explained, referencing her breakthrough Lotte Championship victory as a source of confidence during difficult moments.
Technical Excellence Under Pressure
Grace Kim’s victory at Evian showcased the technical improvements she has made since turning professional. Her course management throughout the week was exemplary, missing just two fairways and hitting 28 of 36 greens in regulation through the first two rounds. This precision became crucial as the pressure mounted during the weekend.
“Course management has been definitely a key factor this week,” Kim explained after her second round. “For someone to dominate this course and capitalize on it, you have to know how this course is going to bite at you. It is very nice to know that I’ve put together two good rounds.”
Her ability to execute under pressure was evident in the key moments of the championship. The regulation eagle on 18 came from a perfectly struck hybrid from the fairway that landed just feet from the hole. Her playoff chip-in required both skill and composure, while the championship-clinching eagle putt demonstrated the putting prowess that has been a hallmark of her game.
Australian Golf’s Rising Generation
Grace Kim’s major championship victory continues Australia’s remarkable recent success in women’s golf. She joins fellow Australians Hannah Green, Minjee Lee, and Karrie Webb as major champions, representing a golden generation of talent from Down Under.
“What a wonderful program that they’ve put together,” golf commentators have noted about Australia’s development system. The success of players like Kim reflects the country’s investment in junior golf and the pathways created for young talent to reach the professional ranks.
Kim has spoken about the influence of players like Webb, who won seven major championships during her legendary career. “Karrie is obviously a legend of our sport and I’ve been so fortunate to spend time with her,” Kim said earlier this year. “To win the trophy named after her would be absolutely awesome.”
The Mental Game and Professional Growth
Perhaps most impressive about Grace Kim’s major championship breakthrough has been her mental development. The player who once cried after missing the cut at Evian has transformed into someone capable of delivering clutch shots under the ultimate pressure.
“The way you handle it, the way you pull through. You just got to accept that and focus on other things,” Kim explained about managing pressure during her runner-up finish at the Meijer LPGA Classic. “The adrenaline will be there, and you’re bound to think about” the pressure, but her approach focuses on accepting those feelings rather than fighting them.
This mental maturity was evident throughout the Evian Championship, where Kim played with composure befitting a veteran rather than someone seeking her first major. Her ability to bounce back from the early bogey in the second round, shooting three birdies on the back nine, demonstrated the resilience that major champions possess.
Prize Money and Career Implications
Grace Kim’s Evian Championship victory earned her $1.2 million, the largest paycheck of her professional career. The prize money brings her career LPGA Tour earnings to over $2 million, providing financial security and validating her decision to pursue professional golf.
More importantly, the victory secures Kim’s playing privileges on the LPGA Tour for the next two years and likely earns her invitations to all major championships moving forward. Her status as a major champion opens doors to endorsement opportunities and elevates her profile in the global golf community.
Looking Forward: Building on Major Success
With her first major championship secured, Grace Kim now faces the challenge of building on this breakthrough moment. At just 24 years old, she has many prime competitive years ahead and the experience of knowing she can win golf’s biggest events.
“Even though it’s hard to believe at times, I try to use that as confidence,” Kim has said about her early LPGA success. “When I do feel down, I use that to say, ‘I do belong out here and I can get it done.'” This major championship provides even stronger evidence of her belonging among golf’s elite.
The victory also positions Kim as a potential future world No. 1, joining an increasingly competitive field of young stars who are reshaping women’s golf. Her combination of technical skill, mental toughness, and competitive experience suggests this major championship could be the first of many.
Impact on Women’s Golf
Grace Kim’s dramatic victory at Evian adds another compelling chapter to what has already been a historic 2025 LPGA season. Her success, combined with the unprecedented parity on tour, demonstrates the depth and quality of women’s professional golf at its highest level.
The fact that Kim’s victory came in such dramatic fashion – featuring two miracle shots and a playoff eagle – provides the kind of compelling narrative that attracts new fans to the sport. Her genuine emotion after holing the winning putt, collapsing in celebration before being embraced by her caddie, created a moment that will be remembered for years to come.
The Complete Champion
Grace Kim’s journey from Australian amateur to major champion represents everything that makes golf compelling. Her early struggles, breakthrough moments, periods of doubt, and ultimate triumph create a narrative that resonates beyond the sport itself.
Her technical skills are undeniable – the precision iron play, reliable putting, and course management that characterized her Evian victory. But perhaps more impressive is her mental evolution from a player who would cry after disappointing rounds to someone capable of delivering miracle shots when they matter most.
As Kim celebrated with the Evian Championship trophy, she embodied the dreams of countless young golfers who envision themselves competing at golf’s highest level. Her story proves that with talent, determination, and the right mindset, those dreams can become reality in the most spectacular fashion imaginable.
Grace Kim is no longer just a promising young player or a one-time winner looking for consistency. She is a major champion, with all the confidence and expectations that title brings. The golf world will be watching to see what she does next, but based on her Evian Championship performance, the future looks very bright for Australia’s newest major champion.
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