Michael Kim wins French Open for first title in seven years

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PARIS — Michael Kim holed a 15-foot par putt on the final gap for a one-shot victory within the French Open on Sunday — his first worldwide title in seven years — whereas five-time main champion Brooks Koepka pale to a fourth-place end.

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Kim discovered a greenside bunker on the par-3 18th at Saint-Nom-La-Breteche and got here up quick from the sand earlier than rolling within the putt for a closing 6-under 65 and a four-day complete of 16-under 268.

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The 32-year-old turned the primary American to win the French Open since Barry Jaeckel in 1972. Other U.S. gamers to win the title embody Walter Hagen and Byron Nelson.

“I type of blacked out when that putt went in,” mentioned the Sixty fourth-ranked Kim, whose final win got here in 2018 — by eight pictures — on the John Deere Classic on the PGA Tour.

Jeong weon Ko and Elvis Smylie every shot 65 to complete at 15 below. Koepka, who has not received outdoors the LIV Golf League for the reason that 2023 PGA Championship, started the day tied for the lead however made eight pars and a bogey on the again 9 to shoot 68 and end two pictures again.

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Koepka was taking part in a 3rd straight week on the European tour after lacking the minimize on the Irish Open and the BMW PGA Championship.

LPGA Tour

ROGERS, Ark. — The Walmart NW Arkansas Championship was shortened to 18 holes on Sunday after heavy rain left the course unplayable.

Only scores from Friday’s first spherical had been counted, making the match unofficial. Sarah Schmelzel and Minami Katsu shared the lead at 8-under 63 and obtained the unofficial winner’s prize cash from a decreased purse. The occasion doesn’t depend towards the season-long Race to the CME Globe.

After play was washed out on Saturday at Pinnacle Country Club, the course obtained 3 1/4 inches of rain Saturday evening, the LPGA introduced, including that it was “extremely unlikely” the course could possibly be readied to finish 36 holes on Monday or Tuesday and make the occasion official.

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Had it been official, the occasion would have had a $3 million purse, with $450,000 to the winner. Under LPGA guidelines, the payout was decreased to $1.5 million, however match sponsors kicked in one other $500,000 to be divided evenly amongst all gamers within the 144-woman area — $3,500 every.

PGA Tour Champions

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — Doug Barron birdied the final three holes at Pebble Beach for a 6-under 66 whereas his pursuers faltered down the stretch and received the Pure Insurance Championship by one shot on Sunday for his fourth senior victory.

Barron completed at 12-under 204. He trailed Steven Alker by 4 pictures getting into the day, and Alker nonetheless had an opportunity to match him with a birdie on the seaside par-5 18th however made bogey for a 72 to complete two pictures again with Retief Goosen (65). Vijay Singh was second after he parred the ultimate three holes for a 69.

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Fred Couples tied for fifth at 8 below, the 65-year-old’s finest end since February.

Korn Ferry Tour

COLUMBUS, Ohio — John VanDerLaan closed with a 4-under 67 on Sunday for a three-shot win on the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship for his first Korn Ferry Tour victory.

The 29-year-old moved into fifteenth on the tour’s factors checklist with two occasions remaining. The high 20 on the finish of the season obtain PGA Tour playing cards.

VanDerLaan opened the match on Thursday with a course record-tying 9-under 62 on the Scarlet course at Ohio State University.

Other excursions

Erica Shepherd closed with a 3-under 69 for a one-shot victory within the Murphy USA El Dorado Shootout on the Epson Tour. … Takumi Kanaya beat Ryo Ishikawa with a par on the second playoff gap to win the ANA Open on the Japan Golf Tour. … Kazuki Higa received his second straight Asian Tour title to maneuver atop the tour’s Order of Merit, a two-shot victory on the Yeangder Tournament Players Championship in Taiwan. … Anna Huang, a 16-year-old Canadian, closed with a 3-under 69 for a seven-shot victory on the La Sella Open on the Ladies European Tour. The rookie led wire to wire and completed at 20-under 268. … Drew Nesbitt beat fellow Canadian A.J. Ewart with a birdie on the third playoff gap to win the Times Colonist Victoria Open on the PGA Tour Americas … Louis Albertse received the Sunbet Challenge on the Sunshine Tour in a playoff over South African countryman Pieter Moolman. … Sora Kamiya closed with a 3-under 69 and received the Sumitomo Life Vitality Ladies Tokai Classic by one shot over Min-Young Lee on the Japan LPGA. … Daeyon Lee received the Hana Financial Group Championship on the Korea LPGA.

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