Christina Kim has had a hard time on the LPGA recently, having missed five consecutive cuts. She took advantage of a chance on Day 1 of the Pelican Women’s Championship.
The 37-year-old Californian recorded her best round (65) since October 2020 on a sponsor’s invite to the LPGA’s last event, finishing T-3 alongside world No. 1 Nelly Korda, Lexi Thompson, Jennifer Kupcho, Danielle Kang, and Nasa Hataoka.
Kim’s best finish so far this year was a tie for 17th place in April. In order to move up in the rankings for next season, Pelican is her final chance to do so.
She was on the verge of dying. Kim narrowly missed the Monday qualification, but learned on a radio interview that she’d be given a second opportunity thanks to the exemption. She reacted in the way you’d expect Kim to reacted.
“Let’s see, there was quite a bit of hopping going on. I was rolling around in the grass like a puppy who finds a good warm patch of grass and just lays down in it “she stated
Kim has been candid about her mental health issues in the past, and she has also encountered difficulties on the course since her rookie year in 2003, including losing her tour card at the age of 28. However, she believes that her trials have prepared her for this situation.
“I’m upbeat because I’ve dealt with a lot of misfortune in my life,” she explained. “It comes with time and practice. If they’ve never dived into the deep mines of human feeling, I can’t expect anyone else to have this kind of false positive outlook.”
Kim isn’t getting ahead of herself after a promising opening round.
She stated, “[Staying in the moment has] been a significant thing for me these last few years, actually.” “I consider myself really fortunate that the pandemic has allowed me to devote more time to myself, focus on myself, and learn to fully love myself than I had previously.”
Kim, a three-time LPGA winner and Solheim Cup champion, is at ease and ready for the next challenge, whether she puts on a fantastic show over the next three days or it ends up being her swan song in 2021.
“You only get one shot at life,” she added, “and I’ve been through a lot in my life and on the other end of it where I’ve wallowed in my own unhappiness and eventually gotten in my own way.” “So, if this turns out to be my final tournament of the season, that’s fantastic. I might as well enjoy it, and instead of worrying about a missed shot, I’m giving myself permission to have another sick up and down.”
