Sunday saw the final round of the DP World Tour’s FedEx Open de France as USA’s Michael Kim sealed his maiden win with a clutch par putt from 16 feet on the last to win by a single shot on 16-under-par.
Posting a six-under-par final round, Kim went bogey free as he chipped away at the leaders to see himself take the lead with back-to-back birdies on 16 and 17.
Kim saved his best work for the last hole as the 32-year-old produced one of the best up and downs of the year from the greenside bunker to break the hearts of the French crowd who were anticipating a three-way playoff involving their home favourite Jeong Weon Ko who finished T2 alongside Australia’s Elvis Smylie on 15-under.
Kim said: “It feels amazing. I haven’t won a tournament since 2018 at the John Deere Classic, and I really wanted to put on a good showing here this week. I’m just so happy and grateful that I was able to come out with the victory.”
“I’ve had a really good year on the PGA TOUR this year. This feels like the perfect cherry on top and I hope to continue this throughout my career,” added Kim.
Speaking about his fantastic finish, Kim said: “To be honest I felt like I hit a decent bunker shot. That green slides away so much that I knew it was going to be quick, and it just didn’t run out as much as I thought.
“Elvis (Smylie) gave me a decent look from the side and it somehow stayed pretty straight through the middle and I kind of blacked out when the putt went in.”
Although despair for home favourite Jeong Weon Ko, the 27-year-old produced some brilliance of his own as he made four birdies and two eagles in his six-under-par round.
Australian youngster Elvis Smylie also went bogey free in his final round as the 23-year-old made six birdies to match Kim and Ko’s six-under final round.
Round three leaders Brooks Koepka and Min Woo Lee dropped down the leaderboard on the final day to finish in solo fourth and T5 respectively.
Joining Min Woo in T5 on 13-under were Italy’s Guido Migliozzi, Norway’s Kristoffer Reitan and 36-hole leader Marcus Armitage.
The DP World Tour returns after next week’s Ryder Cup in Bethpage to tee off in St. Andrews for the Alfred Dunhill links championship where Tyrell Hatton will hope to defend his title on the 2nd of October.
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