Arim Kim Cheers in Opening Match... 'Wire to Wire' Victory (Comprehensive)

Tournament of Champions Final Round: 5-Under-Par
Third Career Victory, Winner's Prize of 436 Million KRW
Korda Finishes Second, Minjee Lee and Ko Jin-young Tied for Fourth

Kim Arim achieved a 'wire-to-wire' victory in the opening round.

Kim A-rim is cheering after securing the victory with a birdie on the 18th hole of the 4th round at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions opening match. Orlando=AFP·Yonhap News

On the 2nd (local time), at the Lake Nona Golf & Country Club (par 72, 6,624 yards) in Orlando, Florida, USA, Kim recorded a 5-under-par 67 in the 4th round of the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions, the first event of the 2025 LPGA Tour season with a total prize of $2 million, securing a 2-stroke victory (20-under-par 268). She maintained the top position on the leaderboard for four consecutive days, achieving a perfect win. This marks her third career victory, three months after the Lotte Championship last November, earning a winner's prize of $300,000 (approximately 436 million KRW).

This tournament is a 'champion of champions' event featuring 32 winners from the tour over the past two years. Kim started with a 3-stroke lead and recorded seven birdies and two bogeys. After a shaky start with a bogey on the 3rd hole (par 4), she changed the momentum with consecutive birdies on the 4th and 5th holes, and secured 'stepping stone birdies' on the 9th and 11th holes (both par 5), preventing her competitors from catching up. Although she missed a short par putt on the 12th hole (par 4), she escaped danger with back-to-back birdies on the 15th and 16th holes. On the final 18th hole (par 4), she celebrated her victory with a birdie. Her powerful drives, averaging 287 yards, stood out.

Kim Arim is a player who has won three times on the Korean Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour. She was the 'long drive queen' for three consecutive years from 2018 to 2020 on the KLPGA Tour. After a surprise victory at the 2020 U.S. Women's Open as a non-member, she joined the U.S. tour the following year. She announced her win shortly after signing a main sponsorship contract with Mediheal before this tournament. In her victory interview, she smiled brightly, saying, "I had a good start" and "I will focus and play well in every tournament I enter."

Nelly Korda is hitting an iron shot on the 10th hole of the 4th round at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions. Orlando=AFP·Yonhap News

World No. 1 Nelly Korda (USA) fired a 7-under-par 65 in an attempt to come from behind but settled for second place (18-under-par 270). Minjee Lee (Australia) collected one eagle and eight birdies, posting a personal best score of 10-under-par 62, climbing from a tie for 12th the previous day to a tie for 4th place (14-under-par 274). Ko Jin-young also showed strong finishing power, reducing seven strokes to join this group. On the other hand, defending champion Lydia Ko (New Zealand) managed only 2-under-par 70, finishing 6th (13-under-par 275). South Korea concluded the tournament with Kim Hyo-joo tied for 10th (8-under-par 280), Yoo Hae-ran tied for 14th (5-under-par 283), and Yang Hee-young tied for 22nd (1-under-par 287).