Kim A-rim has been hitting hard since the first day of the LPGA Tour season opener.
Kim Arim shot a 7-under 65 in the first round of the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions (total prize money of $2 million) at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club (par 72) in Orlando, Florida on the 31st (Korea time).
The competition has the character of a "King of Kings" in which 32 winners of the tour have competed in the past two years and rank without cuts.
Kim earned the right to participate in the championship by winning the Lotte Championship last year.
Kim A-rim participated in the tournament for the first time in 2022 as the winner of the 2021 U.S. Women's Open, but she failed to participate in 2023 and last year, making this the first time in three years.
In her first appearance in 2022, Kim A-rim, who had never played in her 60s in four days and had a 2-under 70 in the second round, flew at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club, which returned for the first time in three years.
He only missed the fairway and green twice each, and blocked the putt with 27. He garnered seven birdies without making a single bogey.
Kim A-rim, who started the game at the 10th hole, also had the luck of making a chip shot birdie at the 13th hole (par 3).
In the seventh hole (par 4), the second shot almost entered the hole, and in the ninth hole (par 5), the second shot was dropped next to the green to create a 1-meter birdie opportunity with a chip shot.
"Everything was good, including shots and putts," Kim A-rim said.
Kim A-rim, who returned to Orlando, Florida, after staying in Korea for about a month after the final game of last season, said she focused on physical training such as weight training rather than shot practice.
"So I was surprised by today's result," said Kim A-rim, who practiced golf for only two weeks.
"I have more experience and improved my skills than when I first participated in this competition three years ago. I played drawball until last year, but I couldn't control it properly," Kim said. "I changed my swing, and I still play drawball, but I try to play fade often, which is good for me." 스포츠토토
In particular, Kim A-rim added that the Isleworth Golf Course in Orlando, a winter training site, was similar to the course of the tournament, which helped.
"Now I've adjusted to the Bermuda grass," he said.
Ko Jin-young, who escaped from the aftermath of the injury, shot 3-under 69 to tie for second place.
He submitted a clean scorecard in which only three birdies were scored without a bogey.
Ko Jin-young said, "I trained really hard during the winter," adding, "From January 3rd, my parents and my dog came to Orlando to train together."
Yoo Hae-ran shot a 2-under 70 to tie for fourth place.
Yang Hee-young and Kim Hyo-joo finished the first round tied for 17th with an even par 72.
Patti Tawatanakit (Thailand) tied for second place with Ko Jin-young, and Takeda Rio (Japan), who won the Toto Japan Classic last year and is considered a strong candidate for the Rookie of the Year this year, hit the same 2-under 70.
World No. 1 Nelly Korda of the U.S. tied for 14th with a 1-under 71 and last year's champion Lydia Ko of New Zealand tied for 28th with a 1-over 73.