[Golf Topic] Ko Jin-young 'Gives Up Defending Major ANA Title'... Park Sung-hyun to Compete

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] ○…'Number 1' Ko Jin-young (25ㆍphoto) has decided to forgo defending her title at the LPGA Tour ANA Inspiration.

On the 4th, she announced, "I will not participate in the major ANA Inspiration held from the 11th at Mission Hills Golf Club in Rancho Mirage, California." It is the first time in 16 years since 2003 that the defending champion has withdrawn, when Patricia Meunier-Lebouc (France) skipped the tournament the following year due to childbirth. Ko Jin-young made this decision because she judged that the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) situation in the U.S. has not yet settled. She has not participated in any tournaments this season.

Kim Hyo-joo (25ㆍLotte), Lee Jeong-eun 6 (24ㆍDaebang Construction), and 2017 champion Yoo So-yeon (30ㆍMediheal) are also expected to remain in Korea. On the other hand, world No. 4 Park Sung-hyun (27) has chosen the ANA Inspiration as her first LPGA Tour event of the year. She will depart for the U.S. on the 6th. The ANA Inspiration is the second major of the season. Originally scheduled for April, it was postponed to September due to the spread of COVID-19. The event will be held without spectators, and considering the heatwave, caddies are allowed to use carts.

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