MEXICO CITY, 16 Nov 2014 (AFP) - The 30-year-old American claimed her first victory in almost a decade as she made a par on the second playoff hole to beat China's Feng Shanshan at the Club de Mexico Golf course.
"I'm at a loss for words right now," said Kim, who earned $200,000 for the win. "I've been through a lot. That has brought me some comfort knowing that with the downs come the highs."
Entering this week, Kim had just two top-10 finishes on the season. She lost the only other playoff she has ever been in at the 2010 Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic.
Kim fired a final-round, one-under 71, while Feng posted a six-under 66.
Kim entered the final round with a commanding five shot lead but let it slip away. She finished regulation tied with Feng at 15-under-par 273.
Feng used four birdies on the back nine to catch Kim, who tripped to a bogey on number 18.
But after both players made par at the first playoff hole, Feng stumbled to a bogey on the second playoff hole, giving Kim her first title since the 2005 Tournament of Champions.
The next closest golfer was world number one Park In-bee, who shot a four-under 68 to finish alone in third at 11-under 277. Brittany Lincicome (69) and Ryu So-Yeon (71) ended tied for fourth at nine-under 279.
Defending champion Lexi Thompson shot a one-over 73 to finish tied for 15th at three-under 285.
Scores on Sunday after the final round of the LPGA Lorena Ochoa Invitational x-won in a playoff (USA unless noted, par 72):
273 - x-Christina Kim 65-69-68-71, Feng Shanshan (CHN) 72-67-68-66
277 - Inbee Park (KOR) 70-70-69-68
279 - Brittany Lincicome 70-71-69-69, So Yeon Ryu (KOR) 70-69-69-71
280 - Pornanong Phatlum (THA) 69-68-71-72
281 - Jenny Shin (KOR) 71-71-71-68, Azahara Munoz (ESP) 66-71-71-73
283 - Angela Stanford 73-73-69-68, Lydia Ko (NZL) 68-69-74-72
284 - Suzann Pettersen (NOR) 71-66-75-72, Karine Icher (FRA) 70-73-71-70, Paula Creamer 70-65-76-73, Morgan Pressel 70-72-73-69