Hyo Joo Kim Defends Ford Championship Title with 260 Total to Top Nelly Korda

Hyo Joo Kim finished at 28-under 260 to secure a two-shot victory over Nelly Korda at the Ford Championship in Phoenix.

PHOENIX -- Hyo Joo Kim secured her second consecutive Ford Championship title on Sunday, finishing with a 3-under 69 to post a 72-hole total of 28-under 260. The 30-year-old South Korean golfer earned a two-shot victory over Nelly Korda, marking the first time in Kim’s career she has achieved back-to-back LPGA Tour wins. This result follows her victory at last week’s Founders Cup, where she also held off a final-round charge from Korda. Kim entered the day with a four-shot cushion and utilized three early birdies to maintain her lead before navigating a turbulent back nine to secure the trophy.

Despite the win, Kim fell just short of the LPGA scoring record of 257, established by Sei Young Kim at the 2017 Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic. Hyo Joo Kim had positioned herself to challenge that mark after recording two separate rounds of 61 earlier in the week. However, a pulled tee shot on the par-4 eighth hole led to a double bogey after her hybrid recovery shot traveled through the green and into the desert scrub. This error, combined with a three-putt bogey on the 16th hole and two missed five-foot birdie opportunities, kept the final score at 260.

Korda’s Pursuit and Putting Struggles

Nelly Korda finished the tournament at 26-under-par, the lowest 72-hole score relative to par in her professional career. After starting the final round four strokes back, she closed the gap to a single shot following Kim’s mistake on the eighth. Korda carded a 5-under 67, punctuated by an eagle-birdie finish on the final two holes. However, her momentum was stalled by significant short-game errors, including a missed par putt on the ninth hole and a two-foot par miss on the 15th.

A critical turning point occurred on the 10th hole, resulting in a two-shot swing. Kim struck her approach shot to within 18 inches of the cup for a tap-in birdie, while Korda failed to save par from off the green. Korda, who won five consecutive starts earlier in the 2024 season, has now recorded one win and two runner-up finishes in her last three outings. She noted that while she would like to have several putts back from throughout the week, she remains motivated by Kim’s performance during their five consecutive rounds playing in the same group.

Leaderboard Breakdown and Scoring Trends

Minami Katsu of Japan claimed solo third place after firing a final-round 65. Lydia Ko, who opened the Ford Championship with a tournament-low 60, finished in fourth place at 20-under-par, eight strokes behind the winner. The scoring environment in Phoenix remained aggressive throughout the week, evidenced by Kim’s 28-under total and Korda’s career-best 26-under mark.

Kim’s strategy focused on pulling away around the turn, a tactic that proved successful despite her late-round putting issues. The South Korean star joked after the round about asking Korda for advice on winning consecutive tournaments, given Korda’s recent dominant streak. Kim’s victory confirms her status as one of the tour's most consistent performers, particularly when paired directly against the world's top-ranked players.

Statistical Highlights and Course Conditions

The sunbaked fairways and crusty greens at the Phoenix course provided a fast-playing surface that penalized errant shots, as seen during Kim’s eighth-hole double bogey. The desert scrub surrounding the layout acted as a hazard for those missing the narrow landing zones. While Kim struggled with the speed of the greens on the 16th, her approach play on the 10th served as the statistical highlight of her final round. Korda’s inability to get up-and-down for par during that specific sequence allowed Kim to extend a lead that Korda could not overcome until the tournament was effectively out of reach.