Choi Hye-jin ties for 4th at 2nd LPGA major of season
Choi Hye-jin of Korea tees off on the 16th hole during the final round of the U.S. Women's Open at Erin Hills in Erin, Wisconsin, Sunday. Yonhap
Choi Hye-jin has notched her second straight top-10 finish at an LPGA major, tying for fourth place at the U.S. Women's Open in Wisconsin.
Choi shot four-under 68 in the final round of the season's second major tournament at Erin Hills in Erin, southeastern Wisconsin, on Sunday (local time). Choi finished at four-under 284 overall to tie two others for fourth place after making six birdies and two bogeys.
Maja Stark of Sweden captured the title at seven-under 281.
Choi had tied for ninth at the first major of the season in April, the Chevron Championship. She now has three top-five showings in eight career U.S. Women's Open appearances, including a runner-up finish as an amateur in 2017.
Her round of 68 was the second-best score by anyone in the final round at Erin Hills, which played at 6,780 yards on Sunday. It came on the heels of a 75 in the third round with one birdie and four bogeys.
Choi said she had trouble figuring out the speed on "very fast" greens in the third round but had a much better time on the putting surface in the final round.
She needed 30 putts to get around the 18 holes Sunday, compared with 36 putts the previous day.
"I think I have very fond memories of being in the U.S. Open championship. And I was a runner-up once also, so I had very good memories," Choi said. "But last year, I was very sad that I missed the cut, but after that, I prepared a lot, so it's a lot of preparation, lots of practice."
Choi said she began the second round with "a very calm mindset," and that helped her stay patient the rest of the way.
"I tried to enjoy golf as much as I could," Choi added.
After Choi, rookie Yoon Ina and former world No. 1 Ko Jin-young were the next-best South Korean players, as they tied for 14th at even-par 288.
Yoon matched Choi's 68 in the final round with three birdies, two eagles and three bogeys. Ko carded a 73 with three birdies, two bogeys and one double bogey.