Korean Wave Sweeps Field

“Let’s show them the Korean women power once again…”

The Korean women golfers will be playing for the season’s eighth title at the LPGA Tournament of Champions.

The Korean golfers who have won seven titles in this year’s LPGA championships will be competing at the Mitchell Company Tournament of Champions (total prize of $850,000) to be held at Mobile’s Magnolia Grove Golf Course in Alabama, U.S., for four days starting November 10.

Those who have won titles during the past four years are invited to play at the Tournament of Champions. Among the 44 golfers competing this year, 11 will be Korean players. Pak Se-ri and Grace Park will not be competing as they have decided to finish the season.

Jang Jeong, who won the Women’s British Open, stands tall among the other players. While the world no. 1 golfer, Annika Sorenstam of Sweden, will not be playing this year, Jang, ranked fifth in prize money and tied for first place (14 times) for the number of times ranked in the “top 10,” seems to be the most stable.

Winning candidates include Han Hee-won, who is steadily securing titles, and tour veteran Kim Mi-hyun, both of whom have much experience. Lee Mee-na, winner of the Canadian Women’s open, has been steadily obtaining good scores. Gloria Park has moved her way up to the eighth spot in prize money without winning a title. These two have been picked to be dark horses for this year’s competition.

Kang Soo-yun, Ahn Shi-hyun, and Christina Kim are judged to be capable of winning. Lee Jee-young, champion of CJ Nine Bridges Classic, should be closely watched also.

Paula Creamer and Christie Kerr of the U.S. and Mexico’s Lorena Ochoa have been picked to be those who may withstand the Korean women power. Veterans Juli Inkster (U.S.) and Karrie Webb (Australia) are to be eyed also.

SBS Golf channel will broadcast the tournament live at 4:00 a.m. everyday from November 11 to 14.

Jong-Koo Yang yjongk@donga.com