The Masked Winner

Disclaimer: Ken Jeong will not appear in this newsletter.

I’ll just beat them now

After a Sunday rain-out, the U.S. Women’s Open finished up on a chilly Monday at Champions Golf Club. With three birdies on her final three holes, A Lim Kim came from five shots back to win. Women’s U.S. Open Results

If you’re unfamiliar with A Lim Kim, you’re not alone. The 25-year-old plays most of her golf on the LPGA of Korea Tour, and the U.S. Women’s Open was her first appearance in a major championship. Not only that, but Kim had never even made an LPGA start in the United States before this past week. But she has been in great form recently, arriving in Houston on the back of four consecutive top-10 finishes on the KLPGA.

Kim started her week with a 68 but cooled off on Friday and Saturday (74-72). On Monday, she came up huge. Even par on the tournament with three holes left, she hit a 5-iron to three feet on the par-3 16th, stuck her approach to a foot on the par-4 17th, and rolled in a 15-footer on the 18th. Birdie, birdie, birdie. That’s how you win a major.

It’s not too late!

Attention procrastinators: Christmas is nine days away! If you need a last-minute idea, look no further than Weatherman umbrellas. Weatherman’s offerings extend (some of them literally) from a 60-inch golf umbrella to a travel-sized, commuter-friendly model. All umbrellas are wind-tunnel-tested up to 55 miles per hour and feature maximum sun protection (50+ UV). Many have useful extras like a mesh pocket for holding a glove, mask, or scorecard. Weatherman has won the Golf Digest Editors’ Choice Award for best umbrella each of the past three years. For protection from the elements—on the golf course and off—you can’t do better.

Shop Weatherman’s full collection and use promo code FRIEDEGG for 20% off your order!

Other U.S. Women’s Open notes

No (Smiling) Cinderella story – After shocking the world at the 2019 Women’s British Open, Hinako Shibuno was in position to add a second major trophy. She had a one-shot lead after 54 holes, but that quickly evaporated when she made four bogeys in her first 11 holes on Monday. Back-to-back rounds of 74 in rounds three and four left Shibuno two shots back, in solo fourth.

Playing with a heavy heart – Amy Olson gutted out a T-2 on Monday after her father-in-law passed away unexpectedly on Saturday night. “I felt very weak and helpless the last couple of days,” she said after her final round. “I really believe the Lord just carried me through. It makes you realize how much bigger life is than golf.” More on Amy Olson from Charlotte Gibson.

Close but no cigar – She put up a fight, but world No. 1 Jin Young Ko ultimately fell one shot short. Ko had the second lowest round of the day (68); unfortunately for her, A Lim Kim had the lowest. But watch out for Ko at this week’s CME Group Tour Championship. After spending the first 10-and-a-half months of 2020 in Korea, she now has two top fives in a row in America.

Major forces – Defending champion Jeongeun Lee6 and two-time U.S. Women’s Open winner Inbee Park made late charges on Monday, but both ended up T-6. Lee6 now has three top-six finishes in four appearances at the U.S. Women’s Open, and Park has nine career top 10s in the event.

Quick Hooks

Because of the shortened season, the LPGA Tour added 12 spots, including two sponsor exemptions, to the lucrative, year-ending CME Group Tour Championship. As Doug Ferguson reported on Monday, CME Group decided to give one of the exemptions to its own ambassador Sarah Kemp and the other to Natalie Gulbis. Kemp is No. 252 in the world, and Gulbis, who boasts a large following on social media, has made exactly one LPGA cut since July 2015. Meanwhile, this year’s Women’s British Open Champion, Sophia Popov, will not be in the field. Beth Ann Nichols breaks down the unfortunate situation for Golfweek.

Among those who did make it into the CME Group Tour Championship are Jin Young Ko, Nelly Korda, Sei Young Kim, and Danielle Kang. Tee Times

The European Tour 2021 schedule is ambitious, to say the least.

Golf Channel announced the hiring of Shane Bacon to co-host the new morning talk show “Golf Today” with Damon Hack. The show will launch in January.

Good Morning America had LPGA rookie Haley Moore on the program Tuesday morning to discuss her career journey and how she overcame bullying in her childhood. Video

The Latest from The Fried Egg

There are two Shotgun Start episodes ready to go this morning! On Monday afternoon, Andy and Brendan turned on the mics (we hope!) to recap the U.S. Women’s Open. They also recorded their regular Wednesday podcast. Listen on iTunes, Stitcher, and Spotify