Who Will Win the U.S. Open?

The U.S. Women’s Open, one of the premier tour stops on the U.S. Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour, has left a strong impression upon Korean fans. In 1998, Pak Se-ri (CJ) won with her ‘barefooted fighting spirit’ after a playoff and gave Koreans hope at a time when the country was mired in a financial crisis. It was also at this same championship that Birdie Kim (Kim Ju-yeon) made an unbelievable bunker shot birdie at the 18th hole on the last day of the tournament to claim the trophy in 2005. This year’s U.S. Women’s Open began on June 28 at Pine Needles Golf Club (par 71) in Southern Pines, North Carolina.

For the first time in the history of the championship, more foreign players (79) than U.S. nationals (77) are participating, and the number of Korean players taking part is 35, which is second only to the Americans. Pak Se-ri, who was recently named to the LPGA Hall of Fame, and Kim Mi-hyun (KTF) who has eight career wins but who has never won a major, are more determined than others. The match between the ‘old and the new golf queens,’ Annika Sorenstam (Sweden) and Lorena Ochoa (Mexico) is also a matter of interest.

Sorenstam, after 69 career wins on the U.S. LPGA Tour, has not been able to win a single tournament this season, but she is hoping to add another U.S. Women’s Open title to the three she already has for a total of 70 wins. It will also be interesting to see if Ochoa, who has already claimed three wins this season, will be able to shake off her poor reputation in major championship play.

In a survey being conducted on the U.S. Golf Association website asking, ‘Will Michelle be a contender in the Women’s Open?’ 87% responded negatively, showing that Michelle Wie, 17, is still not looked upon in a favorable light.

kjs0123@donga.com