Arnold Palmer made Cherry Hills famous in the 1960 US Open for his charge from seven shots behind. This was more of a retreat, a battle to see who could survive.
Lorena Ochoa of Mexico had cause to feel even worse than Pressel.
She was 3 under for the round and 3 over for the tournament -- a likely winning score -- until the pressure got the best of her and she chunked her tee shot into the water on the 18th, making a quadruple-bogey 8 to finish four shots behind.
"I fought so hard for 71 holes and just the last one, you know," Ochoa said, as tears welled in her eyes. "I feel really sad. That's the way golf is."
The victory gives Kim a five-year exemption on the LPGA Tour and three of the majors; she gets to return to the US Women's Open for the next 10 years.
Kim let out a "Whoop!" when told of her prize money, but all she cared about was a big silver trophy she never thought she could win.
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