{"id":14727,"date":"2023-10-16T12:09:06","date_gmt":"2023-10-16T12:09:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/kim-retains-pga-vegas-title-the-express-tribune\/"},"modified":"2023-10-16T12:09:06","modified_gmt":"2023-10-16T12:09:06","slug":"kim-retains-pga-vegas-title-the-express-tribune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/kim-retains-pga-vegas-title-the-express-tribune\/","title":{"rendered":"Kim retains PGA Vegas title | The Express Tribune"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\nLOS ANGELES:
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South Korea’s Tom Kim captured his second consecutive PGA Shriners Children’s Open title on Sunday, holding off Canada’s Adam Hadwin down the stretch for his third career PGA<\/a> title.<\/p>\n

The 21-year-old from Seoul fired a five-under par 66 in the final round to complete 72 holes on 20-under 264 and defeat Hadwin by a stroke at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas.<\/p>\n

Kim sank a 12-foot birdie putt at the 15th hole, Hadwin made a bogey at the par-5 16th and answered with a closing birdie but it was too little and too late.<\/p>\n

“Number three is so sweet,” Kim said.<\/p>\n

“It was a long day,” Kim said. “I just really felt confident in myself and I was playing really well. If knew if I kind of just ‘did me’ I was going to be able to do it.”<\/p>\n

Hadwin’s 25-foot birdie putt at 18 left him second on 265, one shot ahead of Americans Eric Cole and JT Poston, Sweden’s Alex Noren and Canadian Taylor Pendrith.<\/p>\n

World number 16 Kim, a runner-up in this year’s British Open at Royal Liverpool, also won last year’s Vegas title and the 2022 Wyndham Championship but had not been able to add to his trophy haul.<\/p>\n

“It has been a long season,” Kim said. “I’m very fortunate to defend. I’ve learned so much this year. It has been a blessing. It has been very humbling.<\/p>\n

“Last year after going off such a great run, then not feeling exactly myself mid-year, it has been a grind trying to figure it out.<\/p>\n

“It’s my first full season, just trying to live up to that expectation — great year last year, how can it get better? It has been humbling.”<\/p>\n

Kim birdied three of the first four holes before back-to-back bogeys at five and six dropped him out of the lead.<\/p>\n

Cole, son of pro golfers Laura Baugh and Bobby Cole, fired an early 62 to set the mark to beat.<\/p>\n

“Conditions were very good for scoring, no wind and greens were very good,” Cole said. “And I switched back to an old putter today so that might have helped.”<\/p>\n

Noren reeled off three birdies in a row starting at the par-3 eighth, then birdied the par-5 13th and 16th holes to match Cole in the clubhouse.<\/p>\n

That’s when Kim made his charge, sinking a three-foot birdie putt at the par-5 ninth and six-foot birdie putts at 12 and the par-5 13th to seize the lead alone at 19-under.<\/p>\n

Hadwin battled into the hunt with three birdies in four holes, the last after driving the green at the par-4 15th and two-putting from 24 feet to reach 19-under.<\/p>\n

Kim answered by sinking a 12-foot birdie putt at 15 to reach 20-under and again led alone.<\/p>\n

Hadwin found water with his second shot at the par-5 16th and made bogey while Kim sank a tense five-foot par putt to lead by two and parred 17 and 18 as well to hold off the Canadian despite his late birdie.<\/p>\n

Hadwin, ranked 56th, took his only PGA victory at the 2017 Valspar Championship. He was also a runner-up this year to American Rickie Fowler at Detroit.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n