ROK's Sung-hyun Park wins Women's PGA Championship

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The 24-year-old Sung-hyun Park of the Republic of Korea won her second major title this year at the 2018 Women's PGA Championship outside Chicago on Sunday.

She carded a closing 69 and overcame compatriot So-yeon Ryu and Japan's Nasa Hataoka in a three-way playoff during the match.

Sung-hyun Park (L) of Republic of Korea poses alongside the trophy with Lynne Doughtie, US Chairman and CEO of KPMG, after winning the KPMG Women's PGA Championship at Kemper Lakes Golf Club, July 1, 2018, in Kildeer, Chicago, Illinois. /VCG Photo

"It's been a tough year for me with five missed cuts. I think all the work I've done has paid off today. That's what really made me cry," Park said. "I can't still believe that I'm sitting right next to this trophy."

"I guess she's very shy, and I know because she's not really comfortable with the language in the US and because of that she's not really speaking much on the golf course," said Rue. She and Park both missed good birdie chances at the final hole of regulation but proved quick learners at the same par-four to start the playoff.

"But at the same time, even speaking in Korean, she's not really talking much. I never really had a chance to get to know her, but on the golf course I know she always wants to play her A-game," Rue added.

Sung-hyun Park (R) hugs So-yeon Ryu after making a birdie putt to beat her on the second playoff hole to win the 2018 KPMG PGA Championship, July 1, 2018, in Kildeer, Chicago, Illinois /VCG Photo

Less than a year after capturing the US Women's Open, Park claimed the 2017 Canadian Pacific Women's Open and continued her professional golfer playing on the US-based LPGA Tour this year, which was Volunteers of America LPGA Texas in May.

In November, 2017, she became the number one ranked golfer in the Women's World Golf Rankings and finished the season with Rookie of the Year Award, and shared Player of the Year honors with Ryu, making Park the first player since Nancy Lopez in 1978 to win both Player and Rookie of the Year honors in the same season.

(With input from Reuters)