Birdie Kim is the 2005 U.S. Open Women's Golf Champion. The twenty-three year-old South Korean LPGA sensation won the coveted tournament on Sunday, June 26th by birdieing the 18th hole at Cherry Hills Village in Denver, Colorado (74-72-69-72:287). She not only birdied the hole, she nailed it with a 30-yard bunker shot from across the green. It was the only birdie made on the 18th hole in two days. After that, she only needed to wait.

Seventeen-year-old amateur Morgan Pressel was coming up behind Kim on the fairway and now needed a birdie to go into a playoff with Kim. Pressel gave it her best shot, but she came up short. If she had won the tournament, she would have been the first amateur since Catherine Lacoste won the most prestigious women's golf championship in 1967.

Kim's previous best Top Ten finish was a tie for seventh at the Chick-fil-A Celebrity Classic.

Birdie Kim, June 26th 2005 -- Photo by Laura Rauch - AP

The silver medalist at the 1998 Asian Games, Kim was also the 1998-99 Korea Junior Championship winner. From 1998-2000 she was a member of the Korean National Team during which she won 19 tournaments as an amateur. In November 2000, she went pro.

Last fall, she changed her name to "Birdie", so that she would stand out more and not be confused with her fellow LPGA competitors, Christina Kim, Hana Kim, Joo Mi Kim, Mi Hyun Kim and Young Kim.

Previously, Birdie was known as Ju Yun Kim.

In a classic moment that everyone watching will remember, Birdie Kim's triumph in Colorado validates her self-chosen name.

Having "tivoed" the final round of the tournament I started watching just as Birdie was holing out her sand shot.

I had turned on the TV to cheer on Annika Sorenstam of Sweden, only to learn that her challenging day on the course gave her no hope of winning a Grand Slam.

Sorenstam ended the day with a 77 to finish the tournament at 12-over 296, the first time in four years Annika shot over par in a 72-hole event.

Today, Sorenstam and fifteen year-old favorite, Michelle Wie finished in a tie for 23rd. Wie had begun the day tied for the lead, but quickly fell out of contention with a final round 82.

Brittany Lang (69-77-72-71=289) and Morgan Pressel (71-73-70-75=289) tied today's tournament for second place at +5.

Lorie Kane and Natalie Gulbis tied for fourth. And Lorena Ochoa, Karine Icher and Candi Kung tied for sixth.

When it became clear that Wie, seventeen year-old Morgan Pressel, or the nineteen year-old Brittany Lang would not be the first teenager to win the U.S. Women's Open, the gallery of 31,037 quickly turned the enthusiasm toward the virtual unknown 60th United States Women's Open winner, Birdie Kim. As she approached the gallery, many cheered "Birdie, Birdie. Birdie to win."

NBC reporter Kay Cockerill interviewed the 2005 U.S. Open Women's Champion after her win was secure. Birdie Kim told Cockerill, "I still can't believe; I'm very happy."

When asked about her dramatic bunker shot, Kim said:

Really, I didn't try to make it. I just tried to get close.

I tried my best to make par. Maybe I can. I just tried to par, to get close to the hole. But I never thought about the ball going in the hole. It's amazing.

"You just won the 60th Women's Open Championship!" Cockerill said.

The U.S Women's Open is one of 13 national championships annually conducted by the United States Golf Association.

Kim credits her "big sister" Se Ri Pak, the 1998 Open winner from South Korea as one of her inspirations. "She's like my big sister," Kim said. "She gives me advice, 'If you do your best, it will come to you.' "

She also credits her favorite teacher, Bob Tuski in Florida.

Kim finished at 3-over 287 closing the tournament with a 1-over 72 and earning $560,000, the biggest payoff in women's golf.

Prior to today's win her 2005 earnings were $69,935. Last year, she earned $9,897.

The South Korean, who was born on August 26th 1981, has 112 birdies "to her name" and one eagle. Until today, she could count on a successful sand save 32.6% of the time.

Now that Birdie won the U.S. Open she will join Sorenstam Thursday in the first HSBC Women's World Match Play at Hamilton Farm in Gladstone, New Jersey.

For further details on the 60th U.S. Open Tournament, go to:

Congratulations, Birdie!

Inspire & Be Inspired.

Here's to healthy, adventuresome, soulful, "better than par" living!

~ Jennifer Carolyn King, Rugged Elegance, LLC