South Korea’s Na Yeon Choi won the US Women’s Open on Sunday, showing a champion’s resolve in the face of adversity to claim her first major title. Choi, 24, fired a one-over 73 at Blackwolf Run for a seven-under total of 281 and a four-shot victory over another South Korean, Amy Yang. Choi had gone into the final round with a six-shot lead thanks to a remarkable 65 in Saturday’s wind-whipped third round.
Yang carded a one-under 71 for a three-under total of 285, with no other players finishing under par for the event. Choi’s triumph came on the same course where Se Ri Pak won the 1998 US Women’s Open, a victory Choi recalls watching on television as a girl. “And 14 years later I’m here right now, and I made it,” Choi said.
“My dreams come true. It’s an amazing day today, and I really appreciate what Se Ri did and all the Korean players, they did. It’s really no way I can be here without them.” Pak was among the players who rushed out to spray Choi with champagne and hug her after the last putt dropped at 18. “She (said), ‘Hey, Na Yeon, I’m really proud of you. You did a really good job, and you (were) really calm out there,'” Choi said. “She talked to me a lot, and she was hugging me.”
