Kim sinks a birdie to win 

The aptly-named Birdie Kim sank a miracle bunker shot at the final hole to win the US Women's Open in Denver on Monday.

The South Korean was locked in a fierce battle with 17-year-old Morgan Pressel until she struck the shot of her life at the difficult par-four 18th at Cherry Hills.

Looking simply to hit it close from about 20 metres, Kim hit a low bunker shot that landed way short of the hole and kept rolling until it trickled in.

It was the first birdie all day at the hole, and it came at a perfect time for the 23-year-old, playing her first Open.

She carded a closing 72 to finish at three-over-par 287, two strokes ahead of Pressel, who bogeyed the last for 75, and another American teenage amateur, Brittany Lang (71).

Kim is the second Korean to win the Open, following Se Ri Pak in 1998, and just the third player to win the championship in her first start.

"It's just amazing. I can't believe it," said Kim, who changed her first name to Birdie late last year to distinguish herself from the many other Kims on the LPGA.

"I just try to get (bunker shot) close. I just try to par. I never think about ball going in the hole."

Kim, who started the day one shot from the lead, had only ever posted one top-10 finish in her two seasons on the LPGA, but you wouldn't have known it from the way she played.

Seemingly impervious to the pressure, her short game was superb down the stretch, even before the final hole.

Michelle Wie started the final round tied for the lead with Pressel and Karen Stupples, but the 15-year-old carded 82 to tie for 23rd, nine shots off the pace.

Swede Annika Sorenstam's also tied for 23rd, her Grand Slam hopes disappearing after so convincingly winning the year's first two majors.

Australians Karrie Webb (75) and Rachel Hetherington (78) tied for 31st, a distant 10 shots behind.

"I just wish I had putted better," lamented Webb, a two-time Open champion.