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While Park’s Quest Unfolds, a Trailblazer Dies Chasing South Korea’s Latest Title, Following Path of Pro Who Won Its First
(about 4 hours later)
Inbee Park’s historic season is evidence that new narratives spring from some other narrative’s end. Last month at the United States Women’s Open, Park became the first L.P.G.A. golfer in the modern era to win the first three majors in the same calendar year. Less than two weeks later, the South Korean golfer Ok-Hee Ku was found dead in Japan of an apparent heart attack at age 56. Inbee Park’s extraordinary season is evidence that new narratives spring from some other narrative’s end. Last month at the United States Women’s Open, Park became the first L.P.G.A. golfer in the modern era to win the first three majors in the same calendar year. Less than two weeks later, the South Korean golfer Ok-Hee Ku was found dead in Japan, apparently of a heart attack, at 56.
Ku was a trailblazer on the L.P.G.A. tour, paving the way for Park and scores of other South Korean golfers who have transformed women’s golf over the past 15 years. A decade before Se Ri Pak made golf a popular pastime for young girls in her homeland by winning two majors as a rookie in 1998, Ku made the L.P.G.A. Tour a possible dream for her countrywomen. Ku was a trailblazer on the L.P.G.A. Tour, paving the way for Park and scores of other South Korean golfers who have transformed women’s golf over the past 15 years. A decade before Se Ri Pak made golf a popular pastime for young girls in her homeland by winning two majors as a rookie in 1998, Ku made the L.P.G.A. Tour a possible dream for her countrywomen.
In March 1988, four months before Park was born, Ku became the first South Korean winner on the L.P.G.A. tour, at the Standard Register Turquoise Classic in Phoenix. She sealed the victory with a 12-foot par putt, her proficiency on the greens matched by Park, who has turned the 20-footer into a veritable tap-in en route to winning six times this year. In March 1988, four months before Park was born, Ku became the first South Korean to win on the tour, at the Standard Register Turquoise Classic in Phoenix. She sealed the victory with a 12-foot par putt, her proficiency on the greens matched recently by Park, who has turned the 20-footer into a veritable tap-in en route to winning six times this year.
This week Park, 25, will attempt to blaze her own trail. With a victory at theWomen’s British Open at St. Andrews, she would become the first golfer, male or female, to win four professional major championships in the same calendar year. Two players, Mickey Wright in 1961-62 and Tiger Woods in 2000-1, captured four consecutive professional major titles, but not in the same year. Bobby Jones won four majors, two of which were amateur events, in 1930. This week, Park, 25, will attempt to blaze her own trail. With a victory at the Women’s British Open at St. Andrews, she would become the first golfer, male or female, to win four professional major championships in the same calendar year. Mickey Wright in 1961-62 and Tiger Woods in 2000-1 captured four consecutive pro major titles, but not in the same year. Bobby Jones won four majors, two of which were amateur events, in 1930.
“Putting my name into the history of golf, I mean, all of Korea is watching me and they are very proud of me,” Park said in a recent teleconference with reporters. “Not many people get this kind of opportunity.”“Putting my name into the history of golf, I mean, all of Korea is watching me and they are very proud of me,” Park said in a recent teleconference with reporters. “Not many people get this kind of opportunity.”
In the 1970s, a decade before Park was born, a woman’s place on South Korea’s golf courses was as a caddie. Ku was in her late teens when she took a job carrying bags at a course outside Seoul. A few months into the job, she played golf for the first time, and enjoyed it so much she spent her free time on the course practicing. In May 1978, she turned professional and became one of the first members of the nascent Korea L.P.G.A. In the 1970s, a woman’s place on South Korea’s golf courses was as a caddie. Ku was in her late teens when she took a job carrying bags at a course outside Seoul. A few months into the job, she played golf for the first time, and enjoyed it so much she spent her free time on the course practicing. In May 1978, she turned pro and became one of the first members of the nascent Korea L.P.G.A.
Two years later, Ku won all five tournaments during the K.L.P.G.A. season. Her victory total stood as the single-season record until 2007 when Jiyai Shin, the defending Women’s British Open champion, claimed 9 of 18 tournaments on the Korean circuit, according to her L.P.G.A. biography. Two years later, Ku won all five tournaments during the K.L.P.G.A. season. Her victory total stood as the single-season record until 2007, when Jiyai Shin, the defending Women’s British Open champion, claimed 9 of 18 tournaments on the Korean circuit, according to her L.P.G.A. biography.
In 1984, Ku became the first South Korean to win on the women’s tour in Japan. Emboldened by her success there, Ku set her sights on the United States. She earned her L.P.G.A. playing privileges for 1986 by advancing through qualifying school and spent seven years in the United States making friends and influencing a generation of girls back home. In 1984, Ku became the first Korean to win on the women’s tour in Japan. Emboldened by her success there, Ku set her sights on the United States. She earned her L.P.G.A. playing privileges for 1986 by advancing through qualifying school and spent seven years in the United States making friends and influencing a generation of girls back home.
“She had a great smile and a good sense of humor,” said Beth Daniel, one of the top players during Ku’s era. “We all enjoyed her.”“She had a great smile and a good sense of humor,” said Beth Daniel, one of the top players during Ku’s era. “We all enjoyed her.”
Daniel, a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, said Ku acquired the nickname Cookie because the other Tour players had a hard time pronouncing her name. Daniel, a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, said Ku acquired the nickname Cookie because the other tour players had a hard time pronouncing her name.
“She couldn’t speak a lot of English, and at that time there was no one to help her with the language,” Daniel said. “But she had a good sense of humor. You could joke with her and she would kind of laugh with us. And she could tease back. If she saw you wearing colorful pants, she would say, ‘Nice pants’ and laugh.” “She couldn’t speak a lot of English, and at that time, there was no one to help her with the language,” Daniel said. “But she had a good sense of humor. You could joke with her, and she would kind of laugh with us. And she could tease back. If she saw you wearing colorful pants, she would say, ‘Nice pants’ and laugh.”
After the 1992 season, Ku returned to Asia. As recently as 2005, she was one of the top players on the Japan women’s tour. After the 1992 season, Ku returned to Asia. As recently as 2005, she was one of the top players on Japan’s women’s tour.
Park recalled crossing paths with Ku once, at an event a few years ago on the L.P.G.A. of Korea Tour.Park recalled crossing paths with Ku once, at an event a few years ago on the L.P.G.A. of Korea Tour.
“She was one of the first ones to go to the world-class level as a Korean woman,” she said. “She showed us that she could do it.”“She was one of the first ones to go to the world-class level as a Korean woman,” she said. “She showed us that she could do it.”
Unlike Park, who has received so much attention she said, “I feel like the whole world is watching me,” Ku did not gain much notice in the wake of her history-making turn in Arizona. Unlike Park, who has received so much attention that she said “I feel like the whole world is watching me,” Ku did not gain much notice in the wake of her milestone first victory in Arizona.
Seoul hosted the Summer Olympics later in 1988, a coming-out party that dominated the headlines at home at the time of Ku’s American breakthrough. In the United States, the language barrier kept Ku’s story from getting told. Even in Japan, where she won 23 events, she toiled in the considerable shadow of Ayako Okamato, a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame. Seoul hosted the Summer Olympics later in 1988, a national coming-out party that dominated the headlines there at the time of Ku’s American breakthrough. In the United States, the language barrier kept Ku’s story from being told. Even in Japan, where she won 23 events, she toiled in the considerable shadow of Ayako Okamoto, a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame.
Ku was the first player inducted into the K.L.P.G.A. Hall of Fame and also served a term as the tour’s president.Ku was the first player inducted into the K.L.P.G.A. Hall of Fame and also served a term as the tour’s president.
After Ku’s death, the South Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism released a statement saying Ku would be awarded the second-highest decoration in the Order of Merit in sports in recognition of her accomplishments.
Kay Cockerill, a Golf Channel reporter who played on the L.P.G.A. Tour with Ku, said: “I really had a lot of respect for her coming over and trying something new. At the time, there weren’t a lot of Koreans playing even in Japan. She was definitely a pioneer.”Kay Cockerill, a Golf Channel reporter who played on the L.P.G.A. Tour with Ku, said: “I really had a lot of respect for her coming over and trying something new. At the time, there weren’t a lot of Koreans playing even in Japan. She was definitely a pioneer.”
Pak, a 25-time winner on the L.P.G.A. tour who started playing golf at age 14 in 1991, took up the game as Ku’s playing days in the United States were winding down. Like Ku, she arrived in the United States after winning multiple tournaments on the K.L.P.G.A. tour. Park took a different route, moving to the United States with her family when she was 12 so she could become more proficient in golf and English. Pak, a 25-time winner on the L.P.G.A. Tour who started playing golf at age 14 in 1991, took up the game as Ku’s playing days in the United States were winding down. Like Ku, she arrived in the United States after winning multiple tournaments on the K.L.P.G.A. tour. Park took a different route, moving to the United States with her family when she was 12 so she could become more proficient in golf and English.
After a decorated amateur career, Park burst onto the professional scene at age 19 with a victory at the 2008 United States Women’s Open. She did not win another L.P.G.A. tour event until the 2012 Evian Masters. She credited her success this year to her mental coach, Sookyung Cho, and to her fiancé, Gi Hyeob Nam, a professional golfer who helped her refine her rhythmic swing. After a decorated amateur career, Park burst onto the pro scene at 19 with a victory at the 2008 United States Women’s Open. She did not win another L.P.G.A. Tour event until the 2012 Evian Masters. She credited her success this year to her mental coach, Sookyung Cho, and to her fiancé, Gi Hyeob Nam, a pro golfer who helped her refine her rhythmic swing.
Park, the runner-up at last year’s British Open at Royal Liverpool, arrives at St. Andrews on destiny’s wings. The course is where Jones opened his historic Grand Slam run in 1930 with a victory at the British Amateur. Park, the runner-up at last year’s British Open at Royal Liverpool, arrives at St. Andrews on destiny’s wings. The course is where Jones opened his Grand Slam run in 1930 with a victory at the British Amateur.
Park is the prohibitive favorite, which is not the most comfortable of positions.Park is the prohibitive favorite, which is not the most comfortable of positions.
“I’m trying to get used to the attention, trying to get used to the pressure,” she said.“I’m trying to get used to the attention, trying to get used to the pressure,” she said.
Park added: “How could you not feel the pressure in the type of situation I’m in? But I’ve played good until this point, I’ve won six tournaments, three majors. Even if I don’t win anymore, I’m very happy for this season.”Park added: “How could you not feel the pressure in the type of situation I’m in? But I’ve played good until this point, I’ve won six tournaments, three majors. Even if I don’t win anymore, I’m very happy for this season.”
After her victory in Phoenix, Ku never won again on the L.P.G.A. tour. But if not for her story, Park may not be authoring history. In a 2011 interview with Golf World, Ku said, “I can’t imagine that so many Korean women are playing and succeeding on the L.P.G.A., even in my dreams.” After her victory in Phoenix, Ku never won again on the L.P.G.A. Tour. But if not for her story, Park might not be writing her own. In a 2011 interview with Golf World, Ku said, “I can’t imagine that so many Korean women are playing and succeeding on the L.P.G.A., even in my dreams.”