A Lim Kim victorious in Hawaii — Caitlin Clark at The ANNIKA
The IX: Golf Thursday with Marin Dremock, Nov. 14, 2024
As the 2024 LPGA season winds down, another tournament came to a close in a thrilling fashion. A Lim Kim picked up her second career LPGA Tour victory at the 2024 LOTTE Championship presented by Hoakalei in Hawaii.
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The final round got off to a rollercoaster start for Kim. She started the day with a one-shot lead over Nataliya Guseva. Kim bogeyed No. 2 and birdied No. 3 to reset her place at the top of the leaderboard. Then, Guseva birdied No. 4 to tie Kim for the lead at 14-under.
Kim’s third shot on the par-5 fifth set up a birdie to get her to 15-under, but Guseva was right on her heels with a birdie of her own.
“It did not really go well to be honest at the beginning,” Kim said of the rocky start of her final round. “I just told myself I’m going do what I set out to do. I just trusted myself.”
On No. 6, Kim hit an incredible second shot; the ball was in the rough, severely below her feet. This set her up for another birdie to get to 16-under.
The eighth hole treated both Kim and Guseva to challenges, but Guseva nestled up a long putt to tap in for par while Kim dropped a shot. The two went back to being tied at 15-under.
To finish out the back nine, Guseva bogeyed the ninth hole. She flew a chip long of the hole and dropped to 14-under, one back of the leader Kim.
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A roller coaster front nine from both Kim and Guseva opened the door for some other players to make their own charges.
Nasa Hataoka was a notable competitor, though several groups ahead of the leaders. After surging with birdies on Nos. 10 and 12, she rolled one in from just off the green on the 13th hole for a birdie to get to 15-under par.
In the meantime, back-to-back birdies from Kim on the 10th and 11th propelled her to 17-under par. A solid up-and-down birdie by Guseva saw her tie with Hataoka for second at 15-under par. Kim, at this point, had a two-shot lead over the group.
All Kim had to do was stay consistent from this point on in the final round. She nearly chipped in for birdie on hole 12, nicking the flagstick to set her up with an easy par save.
A string of pars on Nos. 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 helped Kim stay at the lead, although not a comfortable one. Guseva and Hataoka were right on the doorstep at every chance they could get.
Guseva nearly holed out on No. 13 and made her birdie putt to sit at solo second place with a total score of 16-under par.
But a few holes away on the 16th, Hataoka drained a long birdie putt to match, setting her up in a tie for second with Guseva at 16-under.
Hataoka credited her putting as the area that she had to be more aggressive in during her final round. And it sure was. She rolled in some crucial putts to put up a fight. But a three-putt bogey on No. 17 sent her back down into solo third place at 15-under, two back of the lead.
“You know, I was trying to make many birdies and unfortunately last two holes I made a bogey,” Hataoka reflected in her press conference. “But it was solid round today.”
Guseva hung out at 16-under par, stringing together a couple of pars and nearly chipping in for birdie on the last hole to tie Kim at 17-under.
However, it wouldn’t have mattered, as Kim coolly rolled in a birdie on the par-5 18th to solidify her tournament victory at 18-under par.
Kim’s winning putt was met with a water bottle spray and massive hug from Guseva. To see this heartfelt celebration by the player who came up just short was amazing.
“You know, I take only the best. Obviously congrats to A Lim for a great game,” Guseva said. “I really did my best out there. I never gave up. Every hole like I gave just my 100% and more than that.”
I love women’s sports.
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Five at The IX: Caitlin Clark and Annika Sorenstam headline press conferences ahead of The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican
On Tuesday, Nov. 12, Gainbridge ambassador Caitlin Clark and tournament host Annika Sorenstam spoke to the media before the commencement of the 2024 The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican. Clark, as Sorenstam’s guest, fielded questions about her role with Gainbridge, golf role models, preparation for her Pro-Am round with Nelly Korda and Sorenstam and what all of this means for women’s sports.
These are just some snippets. The full press conference’s transcript is available here on ASAP Sports.
THE MODERATOR: All right, welcome back to the Albatross Room, Pelican Golf Club, for the 2024 The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican.
Now we have Annika Sorenstam, tournament host, namesake, and we have WNBA star, Rookie of the Year, Gainbridge ambassador, Caitlin Clark together here to speak with the media.
Kind of the same question we asked in the previous press conference. This is more a crossover sports tomorrow with golf and basketball and Indycar. Talk about that, how Gainbridge is providing that.
CAITLIN CLARK: Yeah, I’m just obviously really thankful for Gainbridge and everything they do not only in women’s sports, but sports in general. It’s tremendous. I feel very lucky to be a partner of theirs.
Obviously as you guys talked about it started before I was drafted by the Indiana Fever, so I feel it was fate in a way. It worked out perfectly. Now I live in Indianapolis. I play in Gainbridge Fieldhouse every single night and I absolutely love it. I just feel very thankful.
The thing I would say is I feel sports unites people. That’s what this feels like, too. It’s bringing people together where they can find joy in something. I think that’s what so beautiful about sports and what I really love about it and what I loved about it my whole life. Some of my best memories from being a kid or spending time with my family or friends have been around sports and how it brings people together.
That’s exactly what this feels like, and I’m sure I’ll remember this for the rest of my life.
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Q. Caitlin, growing up were there any golfers in particular that you were watching on TV that you looked up to?
CAITLIN CLARK: Honestly I tried to watch as much as I can. Rory was probably one of my favorite players growing up. I would have the TV on watching him. I had this pink cute golf club set growing up that I got for one of my birthdays. I would beg my dad to take me out and go golfing.
I loved it. I played just about every sport growing up. I remember when I had one off weekend of not playing soccer or basketball, whatever it was, I begged my dad to take me. Obviously wasn’t very good, but I just loved being outside and trying something new and the challenge of golf. Obviously a lot different from definitely basketball and the team aspect.
It’s much more individual. So that’s another challenge I love about it, too.
THE MODERATOR: Caitlin, what was your first reaction when this idea was presented to you? Also take us through the last couple months of what the prep has been like. Have you focused on playing being practicing, instruction?
CAITLIN CLARK: Yeah, I mean, I’ve known about this for a while and I’ve been pretty excited about it for a while. Honestly, it’s been in conversation before I decided if I was going to go back to college for a year. I didn’t know if I would be able to make this event this year. I’m fortunate that I am.
You know, having my first WNBA season behind me and being here is super cool. I’ve tried to take as much time as I can to practice, but there is only so much hope. You just cross your fingers, pray.
No, I’ve practiced a little bit and I just had the quote about becoming a professional golfer. Everybody thought I was serious. I was not serious. I love it. I love being outside and making it competitive with my friends.
Yeah, that’s what’s been fun about it. It’s challenging and getting to come here and be around the best and have a good time is what I’m looking forward to.
Q. I think average golfers everywhere would agree they have about three or four swing thoughts at any given time. Interested to know your swing thoughts in golf, and is that weird for you coming from a sport where a jump shot is natural?
CAITLIN CLARK: Yeah, I mean, obviously a jump shot is a lot easier. I was joking, maybe Annika should come to the basketball court and we can work on her jump shot. No, I think I tried to change my swing. Honestly, it is what it is.
I don’t know. It’s fun. I love golf. I love the challenge of it. I’m definitely looking forward to it.
Q. Caitlin, you’re standing next to a generational talent as a generational talent. Is anything from Annika’s career, how she carries herself? You talked about how similar you guys are. Is there anything you really look up to her or somebody like her that you want to emulate as you continue on in your career?
CAITLIN CLARK: Yeah, I think the coolest thing about her — and it’s way beyond golf — is her impact she’s had on people. I think as a professional athlete, yes, you love the sports, the wins, you love the titles, whatever it is. But it’s the way you impact people, and obviously she’s clearly done that.
She just represents that in everything she does, whether it’s the events she puts on, her foundation, the way she interacts one-on-one with somebody passing by in the halls here. You can see it, and she lives it every single day.
For me it’s cool to watch and be a part of that. I hope to be able to be that one day as well. So she’s just a great representation of truly what a great role model not only for women’s athletes, but just women across the country in the golf or sports world.
I feel very lucky to just have a little experience with her.
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