Rated 33rd in the world, the particular South Korean got led from the front side courtesy of a record-breaking starting round at Congressional Residential area, setting a new training course record before increasing her advantage in order to six strokes on the halfway stage upon Friday.
Yet a weekend drop-off saw the 27-year-old’s guide shrink to three heading into tournament Sunday, where three holes from the close, she found himself trailing Lexi Thompson. Having finished the opening round ten shots behind Chun, the American experienced held a two-shot lead with seven holes to play.
Bogeying four times on a disastrous front nine, Chun admitted the stress of battling on her first major within six years has been getting to her.
“I want to tell truth, I actually couldn’t control my pressure, ” the lady told reporters.
“I believe if I stay with my game plan and I have a chance in the back nine, so I try to hang inside. ”
And suspend in she did, as Chun bounced back with five pars and a crucial birdie at the 16th with the last six openings to finish three-over for the day and five-under overall.
Meanwhile, Thompson photo three bogeys through her closing 5 holes to see her grip on the title slip at the demise, as she ended one stroke lacking Chun, level with Australia’s Minjee Lee in second.
Champion at the US Women’s Open in 2015 and the Evian Tournament a year later, the particular win marks the finish of a four-year winless run for Chun, whose last LPGA Tour victory emerged at the LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championship in October 2018.
It also sees her declare $1. 35 mil of a Women’s PGA Championship record $9 million purse, with the prize money bending from last year’s event.
‘I always said the depression is getting better’
In an emotional press conference, Chun shown on the culmination of the difficult four-year trip through which she said she had faced calls from some to retire.
“When I acquired a slump, many people said, ‘In-gee, you need to retire because your online game is not good right this moment, ‘” she stated.
“But no matter what they said, I believe I can make a win again. I’m so proud now. ”
Talking with her older cousin last week, Chun admitted that, struggling in order to “see the objective, ” she had been considering leaving the US. Yet when her sibling advised the lady quit golf in order to prioritize herself, Chun realized she was not ready to walk away.
“I believe this win feels really special due to the fact I always said my depression is getting better, ” Chun stated.
“I really cried [talking to her sister]#@@#@!!… Once i heard what she said, I believe We still have a spirit, still want to enjoy golf.
“I’m just therefore happy to make win after all that happened. I just want to maintain saying, ‘I’m so proud of myself. ‘
“That’s why I want to keep saying thanks to everyone who believed within me and never threw in the towel on me. inch
ALL OF US Open champion Lee, who narrowly missed out on a second major in the same month, believes the win will give Chun “a large confidence boost. ”
“I think she went through several hardships here and there, inch Lee told reporters.
“So I think your girl will be really, actually happy and just grateful for everyone around her. ”