South Korean LPGA stars going places
South Korean players have been in the limelight for the last few months, as they have managed to dominate women’s golf by seizing most of the positions in the top 100.
Women’s golf, which was once known for heavy representation of players from the United States, has become a sport literally hijacked by South Korean LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association) stars.
Some of the key South Korean players who have risen to prominence by performing well on the Tour include Na Yeon Choi, Amy Yang, Sun Ju Ahn, I.K. Kim, Jiyai Shin, Sun Young Yoo, Inbee Park, Ji-Hee Lee, So Yeon
Ryu, Mi-Jeong Jeon, Se Ri Pak, Hee Kyung Seo, Ha Neul Kim, Hee Young Park, Meena Lee, Soo-Jin Yang and Eun-Hee Ji.
All the aforementioned players rank in the top 50 in the Women’s World Golf Rankings. Experts have said that the coming days will see more players from South Korea grabbing the top spots in the world rankings.
So far, Americans, who had dominated women’s golf for decades, do not appear to be in a strong position these days. Most of the past star performers from the United States have now been pushed back, with the
players from Asia and Europe having seized most of the positions in the top 100.
The only American who is struggling to prove her mettle on the LPGA Tour is Stacy Lewis. Lewis displayed a stunning performance in some of the recent tournaments and has managed to boost her position to the
second in the Women’s World Golf Rankings.
Commentators said that the rise of South Korean golfers on the LPGA Tour has increased the interest of general South Koreans in the sport. However, the rising tide of South Korean golfer is also because of
male golfers of the country.
For instance, K.J. Choi, a rising player on the PGA (Professional Golf Association) Tour, has been going places these days. Choi’s success has been a huge contributing factor in bolstering women’s golf in South
Korea.
Despite being a male-oriented society, South Korea is producing more female golfers than countries like the United States, Great Britain and Australia.
J.S. Kang, who is associated with the sport for years, recently said in one of his interviews that the victories of South Korean PGA stars in some of the most prestigious events have propped up golf in the
country — both male and female.
Gary Gilchrist, Former Director of Golf at the International Junior Golf Academy in South Carolina said in one of his interviews that South Korean female golfers focus more on playing rather than theory and
academics.
“I think there's less emphasis on academics (in golfers) over there. A lot of the kids over there don't even go to school. You'll probably find a lot of the girls on the LPGA that are doing well never finished
high school. Those who go to school do well at school, and those who choose golf do well at golf," Gilchrist said.
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