Grace Kim showcases clutch gene in final round of Evian Championship

Playing the 18th hole at the course again, both golfers birdied. Kim's shot, however, looked much more difficult. She chipped it in after hitting her approach shot in the penalty area.

On the 18th hole for the third time, Kim nailed a shot over a pond onto the green roughly 12 feet. Thitikul hit her shot into the bunker, which proved costly. She proceeded to nail her second eagle putt for her first major victory.

The only other win of Kim's LPGA career was at the 2023 Lotte Championship in Hawaii. She admitted the comeback in her second victory was unexpected. 

"I [doubled-bogeyed] hole [No. 12] and thought I was out of it," the world's No. 99 player said after the playoff, via Max Schreiber of Sports Illustrated. "I said to myself and my caddie, 'I've got nothing else to lose.' Yeah, that chip-in, don't know that just happened." 

Thitikul — who is still aiming to win her first major — was disappointed she didn't win but seemed satisfied with her play. 

"Overall, like so proud I can do it," the 22-year-old Thai said. "I can overcome it. And then hopefully a lot better chance in the future."

It's easy to see why Thitikul remains optimistic. She didn't blow the match. Kim just had what could be the best three-hole stretch of her career at the right time.