Kim let slip the biggest third-round lead of the year before falling short on the third extra hole as World No.2 Lilia Vu stormed home to secure victory in her first tournament back from a two-month injury lay-off.
After starting the final round with a five-shot buffer, Kim frittered away the lead inside four holes before rallying to make a three-woman play-off at 17-under with Vu and retiring fellow American Lexi Thompson.
All three displayed nerves of steel with a series of clutch putts to each birdie the first two play-off holes, both at the par-5 18th.
But only Vu could repeat the effort at the par-4 4th, after getting up and down from a greenside bunker, to complete a memorable victory.
The LPGA Tour’s 2023 player of the year had overturned an eight-stroke final-round deficit with a Sunday 65 just to make the play-off after Kim stumbled with a 73.
Barely a month after announcing she was walking away from the game at season’s end, fellow U.S major winner Thompson also had the chance to win after fighting back from five shots behind Kim with a closing 68.Â
Instead, Kim and Thompson had to settle for a share of the runner-up prize – and a consolation $US235,000 ($A355,000) pay day – as Vu claimed her fourth victory in little more than a year.
A two-time major champion last year, Vu edged closer to the World No.1 ranking she relinquished this season to compatriot Nelly Korda.
Kim, meanwhile, will rue blowing another golden opportunity to post a second U.S victory in as many years on the world’s richest tour.
The 23-year-old also squandered a four-shot halfway lead at the L.A Championship in April, when fellow Australian Hannah Green stole her thunder.
On this occasion, the 23-year-old regrouped admirably to have three chances to atone with a winning putt on the 18th hole at Belmont’s Blythefield Country Club.
– Darren Walton
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