Grace Kim’s Legendary Playoff Birdie Honored at Evian

Grace Kim, a 24‑year‑old Australian, captured the 2025 Amundi Evian Championship with a clutch birdie on the par‑5 18th that forced a playoff and ultimately secured her first major title. This week at the 2026 event in Evian‑les‑Bains, a plaque now marks the exact tree where she holed out, serving as a permanent reminder of that unforgettable moment. Kim’s win reshaped her confidence, purse, and how she structures her season.

2025 Victory: A Play‑off Thriller

Kim’s final stretch was blistering—she posted 4 under on the last four holes to earn a playoff against Jeeno Thitikul. The 72nd hole saw her eagle from tap‑in range, setting up a dramatic showdown. On the first playoff hole, her second shot ricocheted off a cart path and into a greenside pond, yet she calmly pitched in a birdie over the water. The second playoff hole was decisive: a 4‑hybrid reached the green in two, followed by a 12‑footer for eagle. Her payday was $1.2 million, a career benchmark.

Victory at such a young age gave Kim a surge of confidence, but she acknowledges golf can “humble you quite quickly.” She now describes building her season in “development blocks” to peak at key moments, a strategy made possible by the financial security of a major win. The trophy’s monetary value also opened doors for more flexible scheduling around training and competition.

Commemorating the Iconic Shot

When the field of 132 returned to Evian‑les‑Bains for the 2026 championship, the local organizers installed a plaque on the tree marking her historic birdie. Kim visited the site on Tuesday and called it “a very cool thing” that made her feel she’d created a “legendary moment.” The tribute not only honors her performance but also celebrates the esprit de corps that draws pros to the Evian experience.

Cultural Touches and Personal Details

After clinching the title, Kim’s golf ball became a conversation piece. Hannah Green’s husband, Jarryd Felton, teased her about lacking a smiley face on her Srixon, prompting Kim to reply she wasn’t yet a major winner. The day after her triumph, she added a kangaroo—Skippy—to the ball, jokingly signaling the celebratory inflatable returned to Evian for future events. The image from July 13, 2025, captures her exuberant celebration on the first playoff hole.

Kim’s celebrations weren’t confined to the course. The Aussie contingent gathered at a local pub, but the establishment was destroyed by fire months later, sparing no physical space for future reminisces. She salvaged a trophy replica and the large champagne bottle, handing the bottle off to teammates because she “doesn’t do well with alcohol.” The scene captured her lighthearted side—she was still rinsing off champagne when the group arrived, already buzzing with joy.

Looking Ahead: Development and Future Outlook

Having turned a major win into a strategic tool, Kim now carves her season around focused development blocks, aiming to fine‑tune performance for her next peak. She’s aware that success can be fleeting; golf’s ability to “humble you quite quickly” keeps her grounded as she plans her upcoming schedule. The plaque and the kangaroo‑decked ball are more than souvenirs—they symbolize a new phase in her career.

As the golf world watches, Kim’s story offers a blueprint for emerging pros: combine in‑the‑moment brilliance with long‑term planning, and let each legendary shot inspire the next generation of players ready to chase their own plaque moments.