Hyo Joo Kim rallies with 64 and beats Lilia Vu in an LPGA playoff in Arizona

CHANDLER, Ariz. (AP) — Hyo Joo Kim rallied from a four-shot deficit Sunday with an 8-under 64 to force a playoff, defeating Lilia Vu on the first extra hole with a 6-foot birdie putt in the Ford Championship.

Kim won for the seventh time on the LPGA and emerged from a long and wild day in the desert at Whirlwind Golf Club with 10 birdies in the 19 holes she played.

Vu hit a splendid bunker shot on the par-5 17th to set up a short birdie to tie Kim. Her approach on the 18th bounded across the firm green, she chipped to 7 feet and holed the par putt for a 68 to send the tournament into extra holes.

Vu missed a birdie putt from about 15 feet, setting up Kim for the win.

“The feeling was great today and I just thought one hole at a time, one birdie at a time,” Kim said through her interpreter.

Vu, who started with a two-shot lead over Charley Hull, rolled in a short birdie putt on the par-5 12th to create a four-way tie for the lead with Kim, Allisen Corpuz and Jeeno Thitikul.

Corpuz made two birdies on the back nine, both times giving her a share of the lead. She closed with a 65. and finished third. Thitikul charged into contention with three straight birdies, only to settle for six closing pars for a 66 to finish fourth.

“Had it going on the front nine. Couldn’t quite get a few to drop on the back, but overall still really proud of the week,” Corpuz said.

Kim, a 29-year-old South Korean who has 23 titles across four the main tours in women's golf, seized control with a 31 on the front nine, followed by two birdies to start the back nine. And then she let everyone back into the tournament by hitting in the water right of the 12th green and making bogey on a par 5.

But she bounced back with an 18-foot birdie putt on the 16th to break out of the four-way tie, and she two-putted for birdie on the par-5 17th to regain the lead.

She was at her best in the playoff, especially with the combination of wind and bouncy greens making it difficult to figure out where to land shots on the green. Kim's approach in the playoff rolled out perfectly.

They finished at 22-under 266. Kim won $337,500, sending her over $10 million for her career on the LPGA Tour.

Hull couldn't get a putt to drop in the final group and had to settle for a 71, finishing five shots behind. Defending champion Nelly Korda fell out of the mix on Saturday and shot a 69 on Sunday to finish in a tie for 22nd.

The LPGA next week moves 300 miles north for the T-Mobile Match Play at Shadow Creek north of Las Vegas.

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Jeeno Thitikul, of Thailand, hits from the fourth tee during the final round of the Ford Championship LPGA golf event, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Chandler, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Allisen Corpuz hits from the fourth tee during the final round of the Ford Championship LPGA golf event, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Chandler, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Charley Hull, of England, hits from the fourth tee during the final round of the Ford Championship LPGA golf event, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Chandler, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Lilia Vu lines waves on the fourth green during the final round of the Ford Championship LPGA golf event, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Chandler, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Lilia Vu lines up her shot on the fourth green during the final round of the Ford Championship LPGA golf event, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Chandler, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Charley Hull, of England, lines up her shot on the fourth green during the final round of the Ford Championship LPGA golf event, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Chandler, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Allisen Corpuz looks at her ball on the third green during the final round of the Ford Championship LPGA golf event, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Chandler, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Hyo Joo Kim, of South Korea, hits from the fourth tee during the final round of the Ford Championship LPGA golf event, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Chandler, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Hyo Joo Kim, of South Korea, waves on the third green during the final round of the Ford Championship LPGA golf event, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Chandler, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Hyo Joo Kim, of South Korea, lines up her shot on the third green during the final round of the Ford Championship LPGA golf event, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Chandler, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Hyo Joo Kim, of South Korea, holds the champions trophy after the final round of the Ford Championship LPGA golf event, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Chandler, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — The United Kingdom’s foreign secretary on Wednesday gave assurances of Britain's interest in the Western Balkan region while visiting Kosovo, urging both Kosovo and Serbia to make progress in normalization talks.

David Lammy was on the second day of a visit to Kosovo where he met with senior officials, calling on Pristina to form a new Cabinet quickly following the country's Feb. 9 parliamentary election.

Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s Self-Determination Movement Party, or Vetevendosje!, won 48 seats in the 120-seat parliament, falling short of a majority.

Lammy assured Kosovar officials that “the U.K. continues to play its essential role as a key friend and partner of this great nation.”

The secretary expressed support for the EU-facilitated Kosovo-Serbia normalization talks. Both countries aspire to join the bloc.

“This is a region that matters to Britain,” he said at a briefing after meeting with Kosovo's President Vjosa Osmani. “We want a lasting, peaceful normalization."

Kosovo-Serbia ties remain tense and the 14-year-long normalization talks have failed to make progress.

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, a move Belgrade and its key allies Russia and China refuse to recognize.

Later in Serbia, Lammy discussed efforts at Kosovo-Serbia normalization with President Aleksandar Vucic, who has faced months of anti-corruption protests triggered by a deadly train station canopy crash that killed 16 people.

Serbia plays a “fundamental role” in delivering stability in the Balkans, Lammy said at a joint news conference with Vucic.

Lammy also hailed an agreement with Serbia to combat people smuggling in the Balkans, addressing the surge of migrants reaching the U.K. in small boats across the English Channel.

Vucic said that Serbia and the U.K. have different views regarding Kosovo's independence but agree that “dialogue is of key importance and that problems should be solved through talks to find compromise solutions.”

The EU and the United States have urged Kosovo and Serbia to implement agreements reached two years ago that include a commitment by Kosovo to establish an Association of Serb-Majority Municipalities and Serbia’s obligation to provide de facto recognition of Kosovo.

“I hope that the next government will address all citizens' needs, including by making progress to integrate Kosovo Serbs and engage vigorously in the EU-led dialogue,” said Lammy.

Around 11,400 people died in the 1998-1999 war in Kosovo, mostly from Kosovo's ethnic Albanian majority. A 78-day NATO air campaign ended the fighting and pushed Serbian forces out.

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, left, and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic arrive for a press conference, in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy listens to Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic during a press conference in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, left, listens Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic during a press conference in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, left, shakes hands with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic after a press conference, in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy speaks during a press conference after talks with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy arrives to speak during a G5+ Foreign Ministers meeting in Madrid, Spain, Monday March 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Paul White)