The Ford Championship did not just end with a winner on Sunday. It ended with a message.
Hyo Joo Kim, fresh off last week’s win at the Fortinet Founders Cup, closed out another LPGA title by shooting 3-under 69 and finishing at 28-under 260, two shots clear of Nelly Korda at Whirlwind Golf Club’s Cattail Course in Chandler, Arizona. It marked Kim’s second straight victory and another week in which she looked every bit like the player no one wants to chase right now.
That, to me, is what made this finish so compelling. This was not just about low numbers, although there were plenty of those. It was about composure. It was about momentum. And it was about watching one of the steadiest players in women’s golf handle the kind of heat that can make even the best look hurried.
Kim’s Game Had the Right Look All Week
By the time Sunday arrived, Kim had already done the heavy lifting. She opened with a 61, then added another 61 on Saturday to set a 54-hole LPGA scoring record and build a four-shot lead over Korda. When you get that far under par in an event like this, the challenge changes. It is no longer just about attacking. It becomes about managing the tournament without losing your edge.
Kim did exactly that.
Korda made her push, as you knew she would. She closed with a 67 and finished at 26-under 262, which would win a whole lot of tournaments. It just was not enough this week, or last week. That is a credit to Korda, who is clearly rounding into dangerous form, but it is an even bigger credit to Kim, who never let the whole thing feel shaky for very long.
There is something about Kim’s game that feels settled right now. No wasted motion. No panic. No sense that she is trying to force anything. In a sport where pressure can speed everything up, she seems to slow it down.
Korda Gave This Tournament Its Tension
Even in defeat, Korda was a huge part of why this tournament stayed interesting.
A two-shot final margin can sound comfortable when you read it on paper. It rarely feels that way when one of the players applying pressure is Nelly Korda. She had already taken a 36-hole lead earlier in the week, and after her runner-up finish at the Founders Cup, this became another reminder that her game is very, very close to peaking again.
That matters for the LPGA.
Korda brings attention, expectations and that unmistakable sense that something can happen in a hurry. When she is near the top of a leaderboard, the temperature of a tournament changes. Sunday had that feel. Kim may have been in control, but Korda made her earn every bit of it.
And honestly, that is part of why this was such a strong ending for the event. It had star power at the top, birdies everywhere and enough late tension to keep you watching.
There Was More to This Week Than the Winner
The leaderboard itself told the story of just how deep the week was.
Minami Katsu finished alone in third at 23-under, while Lydia Ko, who lit up the tournament with a first-round 60, eventually finished fourth at 20-under. In Gee Chun was fifth at 19-under, and a cluster of players finished at 18-under in a week where red numbers were almost a requirement just to stay relevant.
Ko’s week is worth a quick mention because it captured the beauty and cruelty of tournament golf. A 60 gets everyone’s attention, and rightly so. But four-round events ask bigger questions. Kim answered them better than anyone.
That is what I liked about the Ford Championship as a whole. It was flashy, yes. But it also rewarded the player who kept showing up with the same poise, the same patience and the same ability to stay in front of the moment.
A Timely Reminder as the Season Builds
This tournament felt like more than another stop on the schedule.
For Kim, it was confirmation. For Korda, it was another sign that a win is not far away. For the LPGA, it was an excellent week featuring elite players, elite scoring and a finish that gave the season a little extra pulse.
And for those of us watching, it was a good reminder that sometimes the most impressive golf is not the loudest golf. Sometimes it is the player who gets the lead, keeps the rhythm and never lets the tournament pull her out of herself.
That was Hyo Joo Kim this week.
Again.
PGA of America Golf Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer who serves as Athlon Sports Senior Golf Writer. Read his recent “The Starter” on R.org, where he is their Lead Golf Writer. To stay updated on all of his latest work, sign up for his newsletter or visit his MuckRack Profile.
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