Park Sung-hyun's Trip to Pennsylvania: "I Like KPMG Women's"

Third Major Victory in 2018 and Last Year's Runner-up 'Land of Promise', Park In-bee, Kim Se-young, and Lee Mi-rim 'Join Forces'

Park Sung-hyun challenges for victory at the third major, the KPMG Women's PGA Championship.

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] There are players who excel at specific tournaments.

'Number 8' Park Sung-hyun (27) finds the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship a comfortable tournament. This is why she is eagerly awaiting this year’s third major of the LPGA Tour, the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship (total prize money $4.3 million), which kicks off on the night of the 8th (Korean time) at the Aronimink Golf Club (par 70, 6,577 yards) in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, USA. She is determined to "end the 'win drought' on the promised land and regain the glory of being 'Number 1'."

Park Sung-hyun has competed in the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship three times. In her rookie year on the LPGA Tour in 2017, she warmed up with a tie for 14th place (4-under 280). In 2018, she achieved a thrilling come-from-behind victory (10-under 278). Starting the final day in third place, four strokes behind, she made three birdies to tie with So-yeon Ryu (30, Mediheal) and Nasa Hataoka (Japan) at 10-under 278, then clinched the winning birdie on the second hole of the playoff at the 16th hole (par 4).

This was her second major queen title following the 2017 US Women’s Open. Last year, she was again the "woman of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship." She fired a 4-under on the final day to finish second (8-under 280), just one stroke behind Hannah Green (Australia). She demonstrated resilience by posting under-par scores for four consecutive days at the challenging Hazeltine National Golf Club. Although she pressured Green by just one stroke, she fell short by 2% and narrowly missed achieving back-to-back major wins.

Park Sung-hyun is dreaming of a comeback at this season’s KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. After withdrawing due to a shoulder injury immediately following the third round of the Tour Championship final in November last year, she stayed in Korea due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She returned after 10 months at the second major, the ANA Inspiration, on the 10th of last month, but her performance was below expectations. She tied for 40th at the ANA Inspiration and missed the cut at the Cambia Portland Classic.

Her world ranking also slipped from 4th to 8th after her comeback. However, she showed signs of revival by finishing tied for 27th at last week’s ShopRite Classic. She demonstrated strength by shooting 5-under in both the second and fourth rounds. On the final day, her average driving distance reached 271 yards, and her putting was impressive with 24 putts, highlighting her strong green play. She is aiming for her eighth career win, her first in 1 year and 3 months since the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship in July last year.

Golf queen Park In-bee (32, KB Financial Group) is a strong favorite to win. She is the champion who achieved three consecutive wins at this tournament from 2013 to 2015. She plans to wash away the humiliation of missing the cut last week. Kim Sei-young (27, Mirae Asset) is aiming for her first major queen title, and 'ANA champ' Lee Mi-rim (30, NH Investment & Securities) is challenging for back-to-back major wins. Whether defending champion Green can secure her second consecutive win is also a point of interest. ShopRite champion Mel Reid (England) dreams of back-to-back victories.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.