S. Korean Ko Jin-young wins in official LPGA debut

South Korean LPGA player Ko Jin-young made history in Australia on Sunday, becoming the first player in nearly seven decades to win in her inaugural start as a rookie.Ko fired a 14-under 274 to take the ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open by three strokes over fellow South Korean Choi Hye-jin. Ko shot a three-under 69 in the final round at Kooyonga Golf Club in Adelaide.Ko earned her LPGA privileges by winning the LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championship on home soil last October. This was Ko's first even

Feb. 18, 2018

Korean men's golf tour to offer record purse in 2018 season

South Korea's top men's golf tour will offer the highest purse yet next year.The Korea Professional Golfers' Association announced Wednesday that its top-tier Korean Tour will have a record total prize money of 14.1 billion won ($13.1 million), with 17 tournaments lined up for next season."The number of tournaments in 2018 is down from this year's 19, but the total purse has increased 150 million won from this year,"said Yang Hwee-boo, who heads the KPGA. "Many sponsors have helped us to develop

Dec. 27, 2017

Korean youngster on PGA Tour high on confidence heading into '18

SEONGNAM, South Korea -- South Korean PGA Tour star Kim Si-woo said Thursday he has high confidence heading into the new year, thanks to improved fitness and added distance off the tee.The winner of the 2017 Players Championship, Kim said he's spent much of the winter working on his conditioning so he could better survive the grind that is the PGA Tour."Last winter, I didn't prepare as much as I should have, and it led to some injuries early in the year," Kim said at Namseul Country Club here in

Dec. 21, 2017

LPGA phenomenon Park Sung-hyun looking to outdo self in sophomore season

INCHEON -- Any way you cut it, South Korean phenomenon Park Sung-hyun enjoyed a monumental rookie season on the LPGA Tour in 2017.On the strength of two wins, Park was the runaway winner of the Rookie of the Year honors, and added the Player of the Year and the tour's money title, too. She was the only LPGA player to earn more than US$2 million this year, and she became the first rookie to reach No. 1 in the world rankings in November.What does she have for an encore in her sophomore campaign? F

Dec. 5, 2017

Co-LPGA Player of the Year Ryu So-yeon makes triumphant return home

INCHEON -- Co-LPGA Player of the Year Ryu So-yeon got a hero's welcome Tuesday after a strong season in which she reached No. 1 in the world rankings for the first time.Ryu won two LPGA tournaments, including her second career major at the ANA Inspiration in April and reached No. 1 in late June. She stayed there until early November, when fellow South Korean Park Sung-hyun replaced her at the top.Ryu and Park shared the LPGA's Player of the Year award after they finished tied atop the standings

Nov. 21, 2017

Korean tour star announces move to LPGA for 2018

South Korean golfer Ko Ji-young, the 2016 Korea LPGA Player of the Year, will take her talent to the LPGA Tour next year, her agency, Galaxia SM, said Monday.The 22-year-old earned her eligibility by winning the LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championship on home soil last month."I've been dreaming of reaching the LPGA Tour ever since I started playing golf," Ko said in a statement. "I've decided to take on this challenge to realize an even bigger dream. I'll try my best to win a tournament and earn the Roo

Nov. 20, 2017

Koreans combine for record-tying 15 LPGA wins in 2017

South Korean golfers combined for a record-tying 15 wins in the 2017 LPGA Tour season, sweeping up nearly half of the tournaments to reaffirm their dominance in women's golf.In all, 11 South Koreans won 15 out of 33 tournaments this year, including three of the five majors. It ties the record for most LPGA wins by the South Korean contingent in one season, matching the mark set in 2015, when there were 31 tournaments.Kim In-kyung led the way with three tour wins, including her first major title

Nov. 20, 2017

Koreans share LPGA's top player award

They've been neck and neck during the 2017 LPGA Tour season. And perhaps it's only fitting that Ryu So-yeon and Park Sung-hyun are the co-winners of the tour's Player of the Year honors.The two South Korean stars finished tied atop the Player of the Year points race at 162 apiece, following the conclusion of the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship in Naples, Florida, on Sunday (local time).This marks the first time that the award has been shared by two players since its inception in 1966.

Nov. 20, 2017

Rookie sensation Park Sung-hyun wins LPGA money title, shares top player honors

LPGA rookie sensation Park Sung-hyun has clinched the tour's money title to cap off a splendid season, while also sharing the top player honors with fellow South Korean star Ryu So-yeon.Park finished tied for sixth at the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Florida, on Sunday (local time), at 12-under 276, three back of the champion, Ariya Jutanugarn. But that was more than enough to make Park just the third rookie to lead the tour in money.Park, who'd alrea

Nov. 20, 2017

Korean Park Sung-hyun receives trophy as top LPGA rookie

South Korean star Park Sung-hyun received her trophy as the LPGA Tour's top rookie of 2017 at a ceremony in the United Stated on Thursday (local time).Park was presented with the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year trophy during the LPGA ceremony at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort in Naples, Florida. It was held after the first round of the LPGA's season-ending CME Group Tour Championship. In this photo provided by the LPGA Tour, Park Sung-hyun of South Korea holds the trophy for the Louise Suggs

Nov. 17, 2017

Korean's reign at top of women's golf rankings ends after 1 week

Park Sung-hyun's reign at the top of women's golf has ended after just one week.Park fell a spot to No. 2 in the latest women's world rankings announced Monday, as Feng Shanshan of China jumped from third to first on the strength of back-to-back LPGA victories.Last week, Park became the first LPGA rookie ever to reach No. 1 in the world, when she dethroned fellow South Korean Ryu So-yeon. In this file photo taken Oct. 15, 2017, Park Sung-hyun of South Korea hits her second shot at the ninth hole

Nov. 13, 2017

New No. 1 in women's golf says top spot 'honor for family'

South Korean LPGA star Park Sung-hyun, newly crowned world No. 1, said Tuesday her new ranking position is "an honor for my whole family."Park climbed a spot to No. 1 in the latest women's golf rankings announced Monday (Eastern Standard Time), dethroning fellow South Korean Ryu So-yeon. Park became the first LPGA rookie to reach No. 1."This is all too sudden for me, and it hasn't hit me yet," Park said in a statement released by her Seoul-based agency, SEMA Sports Marketing. "I think this is an

Nov. 7, 2017

LPGA legend Sorenstam hails 'amazing work ethic' of Korean players

Women's golf legend Annika Sorenstam on Monday hailed the "amazing work ethic" of South Korean players, who've dominated the LPGA Tour in 2017.Sorenstam is visiting Seoul in promotion of Pacific Links International, an international golf membership company that announced the launching of its Korean service Monday.Sorenstam, a World Golf Hall of Famer with 72 LPGA wins and 10 majors to her credit, is uniquely positioned to comment on the excellence of South Korean players. In the late 1990s, she

Oct. 23, 2017

Latest LPGA champion soars in world rankings

South Korean golfer Ji Eun-hee, the latest LPGA champion, made a huge jump in the latest world rankings Monday.Ji soared 30 spots to reach No. 42 in the rankings on the strength of her victory at the Swinging Skirts LPGA Taiwan Championship in Taipei on Sunday. It was her first LPGA win in eight years.There were no changes at the top, with South Koreans Ryu So-yeon and Park Sung-hyun staying at No. 1 and No. 2, respectively. In this EPA photo taken Oct. 22, 2017, Ji Eun-hee of South Korea holds

Oct. 23, 2017

Korean Ji Eun-hee captures 1st LPGA win in 8 years

South Korean Ji Eun-hee won the LPGA championship in Taiwan on Sunday -- her first LPGA victory in eight years.Ji cruised to take the Swinging Skirts LPGA Taiwan Championship in Taipei by six strokes over Lydia Ko. After shooting a bogey-free seven-under 65 in the final round at par-72 Miramar Resort and Country Club, Ji finished at 17-under 271.This was Ji's third career LPGA win and her first since her US Women's Open victory in July 2009. In this EPA photo, Ji Eun-hee of South Korea tees off

Oct. 22, 2017

Justin Thomas wins first PGA Tour event in Korea in playoff

SEOGWIPO, South Korea -- American star Justin Thomas won the first PGA Tour event held in South Korea in a playoff Sunday.Thomas won the inaugural CJ Cup @ Nine Bridges at the Club at Nine Bridges on the southern resort island of Jeju thanks to a birdie on the second playoff hole against Marc Leishman.This was the seventh career PGA victory for Thomas, the reigning PGA Tour Player of the Year and money winner, and his first win in a playoff. Justin Thomas of the United States hoists the champion

Oct. 22, 2017

LPGA stars extol virtues of intl. team event

INCHEON -- International stars of women’s golf extolled the virtues Monday of an up-and-coming international competition that has given them a rare opportunity to play for their nation.　The UL International Crown, inaugurated by the LPGA Tour in 2014, will come to South Korea for its third edition in 2018. It’s a new international team event in women’s golf alongside the Solheim Cup, the match play contest between the United States and Europe.　The International Crown is more inclusive. It invite

Oct. 16, 2017

Korean golf legend Pak Se-ri named honorary director of women's intl. team competition

INCHEON -- South Korean golf legend Pak Se-ri was named an honorary executive director Monday for an LPGA international match play competition to be held in South Korea next year.Pak, a World Golf Hall of Famer, will serve in that role for the UL International Crown from Oct. 4 to 7 at Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea in Incheon, just west of Seoul.This will be the third edition of the biennial competition and the first to be held outside the United States. In this file photo provided by the Korea

Oct. 16, 2017

S. Korean tour star captures 1st LPGA victory at home

South Korean tour star Ko Jin-young captured her first LPGA title at home on Sunday, overcoming a gaffe on the green to edge out two fellow South Koreans in a nail-biting finish.Ko carded a four-under 68 in the final round to take the LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championship on the Ocean Course at Sky 72 Golf & Resort near Incheon International Airport.At a tournament-record score of 19-under 269, Ko defeated LPGA rookie sensation Park Sung-hyun by two. Chun In-gee, the 2016 LPGA Rookie of the Year, was

Oct. 15, 2017

Iceland's 1st LPGA player comes long way to Korea -- literally

INCHEON -- To play in South Korea for the first time in her young career this week, Olafia Kristinsdottir, the first LPGA Tour player from Iceland, had to come a long way.The rookie was a last-minute addition to the field of 78 at the LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championship, which began at Sky 72 Golf & Resort's Ocean Course, near Incheon International Airport, on Thursday. An extra spot opened up for her when Moriya Jutanugarn of Thailand pulled out, and Kristinsdottir only found out over the weekend -

Oct. 13, 2017