Park Uneasy About Her LPGA Comeback

Park Ji-eun (27, Nike Golf), who always sounds dignified, said this in a trembling voice. Perhaps this is due to her attempt to make a comeback after a prolonged slump and injuries.

Park was called the “Birdie Queen” in the LPGA. However, beginning this year, Park played poorly and was injured. Now she will participate in the SK Enclean Solux Invitational of KLPGA to be held in the New Seoul Country Club, North Course (Par 72), Gwangju City, Gyeonggi Province, on September 15. More than three months have passed since she last played at the McDonald’s LPGA Championship in June.

Park said, “This is the first time that I haven’t played for this long. I committed to treating my waist and neck disc in Korea.” Park devoted herself to eliminating her pain with chuna manual therapy (chiropractics) at an oriental medical hospital in Seoul. Park added, “The doctors say that there is no perfect cure to my disc problem. They say I have to live with this for the rest of my life.”

After recovering roughly from the treatment, Park underwent a 10-day lesson in Arizona, U.S., and began fervently golfing 15 days ago.

Park was one of Korea’s three big female golfers, along with Pak Se-ri and Kim Mi-hyun, but she had her worst season this year. She didn’t make the top 10 in 11 competitions, and her prize money ranking fell to 102nd.

Park noted, “I corrected my swing earlier this year but failed to adapt to it. I usually do fade shots but changed to a draw style. I think that was the problem.”

Park, who says that she changed back to her original swing style after her break and that she feel more comfortable with it, said, “Pak Se-ri also bottomed out and rebounded. I will also climb up because I already hit bottom.” Park expressed her determination to rebound just like Pak Se-ri and Kim Mi-hyun who both have made successful comebacks this year following a downward spiral.

Park, who read many useful books about life such as “Don’t Eat the Marshmallow...Yet!” while on her break, will play with a new caddie. Greg Johnston, who was involved in numerous victories including four major championships as Julie Inkster’s caddie during a 12-year period, has become Park’s new caddie. Johnston teamed up with Park after being abruptly fired as Michelle Wie’s caddie.

Park added, “I feel like I’ve gotten stronger mentally. I want to give something in return to those who supported me all along the way. I want to first demonstrate a more mature play as a professional golfer rather than winning the tournament.” Park, who suffered from bitter failure, certainly looked to have learned from her pain.

kjs0123@donga.com