Kim gets spot in final round
Christina Kim already was running on adrenaline as she stood in the 18th fairway Saturday afternoon at the ADT Championship in West Palm Beach, Fla., lucky to still be in the hunt for $1 million and knowing she was one bad shot away from going home with nothing.
So when her 7-iron from 153 yards settled 2 feet behind the hole, instincts took over.
The brash, bullish Californian charged toward her caddie, leaped and spun and collided for an football-style body bump. It was an unusual celebration that seemed to fit right in with this most unusual golf tournament.
Her pro-am partners did that throughout their round Wednesday, and told her to do it on the 18th hole during the tournament.
“The moment was right,” Kim said.
Her timing could not have been better. Kim’s shot, followed by Nicole Castrale hitting into the water on the 18th for the second time, gave her the eighth and final spot in the final round today for an 18-hole shootout with $1 million going to the winner.
As if they needed additional pressure, the LPGA Tour placed $1 million cash – or what looked like it, anyway – in a glass case with a big lock and big bodyguard nearby.
“I’m not Rain Man, so I wasn’t able to calculate whether it was actually $1 million,” Kim said. “You always see in the movies they’ve got the $1 million, and it’s a very thick briefcase. I don’t know. Maybe there’s just a lot of air packed in there. It’s awesome.”
Seven others must feel the same way.
Lorena Ochoa continued to play nearly flawless golf in posting a bogey-free round of 6-under 66, joined atop the leaderboard by Paula Creamer, who holed out a wedge for eagle on the 15th hole.
Karrie Webb, whose 50-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole Friday enabled her to avoid a playoff, made it easy on herself in the third round by racing out to five birdies in 12 holes and shooting 68. The other qualifiers were U.S. Women’s Open champion Cristie Kerr, Natalie Gulbis, Sarah Lee and Mi Hyun Kim.
Pebble Beach Invitational
Tommy Armour III shot a 7-under 65 at Del Monte Golf Course in Pebble Beach, Calif., to take a two-stroke lead over Nick Watney after the third round of the Callaway Golf Pebble Beach Invitational.
The 48-year-old Armour, a two-time PGA Tour winner who finished 110th on the money list this season, has a 14-under 202 total.
“I had a good overall round,” Armour said. “Actually, I’ve played well all three days, so I’m really looking forward to the final round at Pebble Beach.”
Armour had six birdies, an eagle and a bogey in the third round.
Watney, the 2005 Callaway winner, shot a 67, also at Del Monte, one of three courses used in the unique tournament.
The 36th annual event features 81 pros from the four major tours as well as mini-tour players, club pros and amateur teams.
Leta Lindley shot a 74 at Pebble Beach to finish at 3 under. She was the only LPGA Tour entrant among eight to make the cut.