Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
She has returned as a celebrity but Grace Kim has also arrived at the Evian Championship with the same goal as always – to win golf majors.
A year after producing one of the most astonishing fightbacks in the sport’s history to land her maiden major with a spectacular eagle-birdie-eagle finish, Kim is back at Evian-les-Bains on the Swiss border in the French alps seeing herself everywhere.
The 24-year-old Sydneysider’s image is on billboards, at bakeries and restaurants, pretty much everywhere following her dramatic victory on the second hole of a play-off with Thailand’s world No.2 Jeeno Thitikul.
“it is weird. I guess it’s a very grateful thing,” Kim said ahead of Thursday night’s first round (AEST).
“There are not a lot of opportunities that come like this so I’m trying to take it all in. But, yes, seeing my face a little bit enlarged, it is weird.”
After making eagle, her second of the day, on the 18th hole just to force a play-off, Kim looked gone after hitting into a penalty area on the first extra hole.
But she famously chipped in for birdie to extend the play-off, before nailing a third eagle on an unforgettable Sunday to claim the Evian Championship spoils.
So extraordinary was her performance that officials have even installed a plaque at the spot she chipped in from in the play-off.
“I saw it for the first time yesterday and it was really cool,” she said.
“And hearing those people that come to play Evian and trying it out themselves makes me feel nice about it.
“It is a very cool thing for Evian Resort to put it up for (the chip in), so I’m really grateful for it. It makes me feel like a bit of a legendary moment.”
Kim, though, doesn’t want to live in the past.
The world No.31 intends of making new memories and reckons her game is in a good spot entering the season’s fourth of five women’s majors, as evidenced by top-25 finishes in the past two other side of the Meijer LPGA Classic.
“Overall, (my game is) very solid. I don’t think I’ve quite overcome or capitalised on a score or tournament,” Kim said.
“So I would say it’s in a decent spot, just kind of eliminating the soft bogeys or soft three-putts here and there. This golf course obviously has lots of good things that it gave to me, but it’s a new week. Everyone is starting fresh from par.
“As much as I enjoy reliving those moments on the golf course, I would like to create new ones. Hopefully I can do that and I would say my game is solid enough in a good position to do so.”
Kim is among eight Australians teeing it up in France.
World No.9 Hannah Green and the 11th-ranked triple major champion Minjee Lee are also among the top fancies.
Gabriela Ruffels, who, like Lee, enjoyed the lead during last year’s third round, has also returned.
Cassie Porter, Robyn Choi, Kelsey Bennett and Karis Davidson, Australia’s best performer at last month’s PGA Championship, round out the Aussie challenge.
