Inbee Park, of South Korea, holds the championship trophy after winning the U.S. Women’s Open golf tournament at the Sebonack Golf Club, Sunday, June 30, 2013, in Southampton, N.Y.Yet now they’re the only two players to win the first three majors of the year. Park became the first to accomplish the feat in the modern era Sunday with her second U.S. Women’s Open title.
“Trying to put my name next to hers means just so much,” Park said. “I would think I would never get there; it’s somewhere that I’ve never dreamed of. But all of a sudden, I’m there.”
The world’s top-ranked player finished at 8 under to win by four strokes. Her 2-over 74 in the final round was more than enough, with Sebonack’s trying conditions keeping any rivals from making a run. Only three players were under par for the tournament.
Fellow South Korean I.K. Kim also shot 74 for her second runner-up finish at a major.
Zaharias won the year’s first three majors in 1950 – back when there were only three. Now there are five, so Grand Slam might not quite be the right term if Park wins all of them.