"Runner-up 9 Times" Park Hyun-kyung: "I Learned Kim Joo-hyung's Mindset"

SK Networks Classic: Lee So-young Wins in Playoff
First Victory Since 2021 KLPGA Championship
"Cut My Hair Short and Gritted My Teeth"

‘Cutieful’ Park Hyun-kyung smiled brightly for the first time in 2 years and 5 months.

On the 29th, at the SK Networks·Seoul Economic Ladies Classic (total prize money 800 million won) of the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour held at Pinx Golf Club in Seogwipo, Jeju (par 72, 6,748 yards), she shot 3 under par in the 4th round to tie with Lee So-young at 8 under par 280. Then, on the second hole of the resumed playoff at the 18th hole (par 4), she secured the ‘winning par.’ This marked her 4th career victory, 910 days after the major KLPGA Championship by Chris F&C in May 2021. She received a winner’s prize of 144 million won and rose to 5th place in the prize money rankings with 838.67 million won.

Park Hyun-kyung is smiling while holding the trophy with her father Park Se-su immediately after winning the SK Networks·Seoul Economic Daily Ladies Classic.
[Photo by KLPGA]

Park Hyun-kyung is a popular star on the KLPGA Tour. She receives cheers from her fan club ‘Cutieful’ at every tournament. Since her debut in 2019, she has shown impressive performances, including two major wins. However, after reaching three wins, she suffered from a severe ‘runner-up jinx,’ faltering at the doorstep of victory nine times. This year, she finished second three times. After the Daebo Housede Open ended on the 1st of this month, Park cut her long hair. After switching to a bob hairstyle, she collected the winner’s trophy in just four tournaments.

Park Hyun-kyung said, “After finishing as runner-up nine times, I even doubted whether I was a player who couldn’t seize opportunities. The hardest time was when I began to doubt my own abilities.” She added with teary eyes, “I gritted my teeth to get back up. Recently, my shot feeling has improved, and this is the result of me gathering my mind well.” She continued, “Until my last three wins, the tournaments were held without spectators. I had imagined countless times winning in front of fans and audiences, and I’m so happy to finally achieve it.”

Park Hyun-kyung said she gained strength from the victory interview of Kim Joo-hyung, who is active on the PGA Tour. After achieving back-to-back wins at the Shriners Children’s Open, Kim said, “There’s always a chance on the next hole, the next round, and the next tournament.” Park explained, “He is a younger brother I’m close with, and I felt I should learn that kind of positive attitude.”

Park Hyun-kyung expressed gratitude to her father, Park Se-su, who served as her caddie. Park Se-su, a former professional on the Korea Professional Golfers’ Association (KPGA) Tour, has continuously been her caddie. During the first half of this year, she temporarily handed over the bag to a professional caddie. From the second half of the year, Park sent an ‘SOS’ to her father. She said, “I felt a bit hurt in my pride asking him again, but I requested my dad’s help.” She smiled and added, “During the windy second round, he read the wind well. Also, the birdie putt on the 16th hole (par 5) today was thanks to my dad reading the line.”

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