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Christina Kim kicked off what she termed her "second act" with an inspirational, joyous, and impassioned playoff win Sunday at the Lorena Ochoa Invitational that ended a nine-year LPGA Tour winless streak.
The selfie Kim snapped after leaping, dancing, and celebrating with her caddie, boyfriend, and Michelle Wie on the 18th green captured the emotions of the moment that was nearly a decade in the making.
#LPGAWinnerSelfie with @TheChristinaKim @LOIMX #VivaMexico pic.twitter.com/9jc2rjhS0P
— #RaceToCMEGlobe (@LPGA) November 16, 2014
A tearful Wie was one of many fans to tweet congratulations to the three-time tour winner, who has battled back from the brink of suicide to the top of the leaderboard.
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!! @TheChristinaKim
— Michelle Wie (@themichellewie) November 16, 2014
@TheChristinaKim So happy for you!! What a gutsy win! #woopwoop #celebrate
— Meg Mallon (@MegMallonUSA) November 16, 2014
Couldn't be happier for @TheChristinaKim on the victory, much deserved, way to go buddy ☺️!!!!!!!
— Alison Walshe (@Walsheyyy) November 16, 2014
"I just turned 30, so life’s just started," an emotional Kim told Golf Channel after losing a five-stroke lead to Shahshan Feng in the final round but hanging on to claim her first tour W since 2005. "I’m in my second act."
Kim won with a two-putt par on the par-4 18th on the second hole of overtime. Her tap-in ended a back-and-forth contest with Feng, whose drive on the second extra hole landed at the base of a tree, forcing her to chip to the fairway. Feng's approach put her 25 feet out and, with Kim on the green in two and 20 feet away, needing to make the putt.
Feng’s par attempt missed to the right and Kim made hers to secure the win that was particularly meaningful for a player who tried all week to channel the tourney host.
"All the last four days I was thinking, ‘What would Lorena do?’" said Kim, a three-time Solheim Cup member who suffered through such a bad 2012 season that she had to go to LPGA qualifying school. "I’ve known her half of my life ... and she’s been such an inspiration to me."
.@LOIMX Winner @TheChristinaKim with host @LorenaOchoaR #LongtimeFriends pic.twitter.com/dtAngO2vbU
— #RaceToCMEGlobe (@LPGA) November 16, 2014
Kim’s triumph was particularly poignant considering the depression that consumed the golfer known for her exuberance and led her to consider suicide, struggles she chronicled in a blog post two years ago. Kim credited her mother and others close to her with her very survival.
"Without her and the support of my father and my family and all of my friends," she said, "there’s no way I’d be here today."
Kim will join the other 71 LPGA members (and those tied for 72nd) with the most Race to the CME Globe points at the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship starting Thursday in Naples, Fla.