A Lim Kim held off a late charge by Nelly Korda to win the 2025 Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club.
Korean Kim birdied three of her closing four holes for a 20-under-par 268 (65-69-67-67) total, two shots ahead of World No. 1 Korda on 270 (71-67-67-65).
Sweden’s Linn Grant was third on 15-under-par 273, while Korean Jin Young Ko and Australia’s Minjee Lee tied for fourth on 14-under-par 274. 2024 champion Lydia Ko of New Zealand was sixth a stroke further back.
Taking a three-shot lead into the final round, Kim was caught by Korda when the American birdied the par-five 15th hole. Playing in the final group behind Korda, Kim responded with birdies on 15, 16 and 18 to seal her third career LPGA victory.
“Today, overall the game was good. I think what I was trying to pull off today, I got it done.,” said Kim, who won the 2020 U.S. Women’s Open and the 2024 LOTTE Championship presented by Hoakalei.
In the off-season, Kim had been working on changing her stock shot shape from a draw to a fade. “All my career, I’ve used a draw. I’m a really good draw player. But 130 yards and inside, my game is not too good, so I wanted to change my shape and then worked on it and then make it,” noted the 29-year-old.
Chasing her 16th LPGA title, Korda rued a few missed putts over the week. “I wish I had a couple of those putts back this week. I three-putted 9 twice for par, and when you think about it that way, you’re never going to be happy with the outcome. But I think first week back, get into contention and play well, there is never anything bad about it.”
The LPGA Tour remains in Florida this week for the US$2 million Founders Cup presented by U.S. Virgin Islands at Bradenton Country Club, before heading east for its early season Asian swing of three events – the Honda LPGA Thailand (Feb 20-23 / Siam Country Club, Pattaya), HSBC Women’s World Championship (Feb 27-Mar 2 / Sentosa Golf Club, Singapore) and the Blue Bay LPGA (Mar 6-9 / Jian Lake Blue Bay Golf Course, Hainan, China)
