PARIS – American Michael Kim had a 15-foot par putt in the final hole, sealing off a one-shot victory at the French Open for his first global title in seven years, with former No. 1 Brooks Koepka fading to a fourth-place finish.
Kim shortened the bunker shot in par 3 18th place, but rolled in for par to complete a 6-under 65, finishing the week at 16 under.
“When that putt came in, I was a bit black,” said Kim, 64th, who arrived in 2018 with eight shots in the PGA Tour John Deere Classic.
This victory wasn’t that easy. Australia’s Elvis Smiley and France’s Coon Waon came in second and shot 65.
Koepka, who started the final round with a lead tie, made an eight-par and bogey on the back nine, and got out of the fight. The five major winner shot 68 and was alone in fourth place.
Koepka last won his last in August 2024 at the Break Away Reve Golf Circuit in Greenbrier, West Virginia, and played for the third consecutive week on the European Tour. He missed a cut at the Irish Open and BMW PGA Championship in Wentworth.
Having established himself as an unlikely social media star in recent years, Kim became the first American to win the French Open in 53 years since Barry Jackel in 1972. Walter Hagen and Byron Nelson were other US players.