Top KLPGA golfer Park Sung-hyun to join LPGA Tour next year

By Park Sae-jin Posted : November 7, 2016, 13:46 Updated : November 7, 2016, 17:24
 

[Yonhap News Photo]


Park Sung-hyun, a star player on the South Korean female golf tour, announced her plan Monday to join the LPGA Tour in January next year after becoming this year's money leader at home.

The 23-year-old said she would compete at the Pure Silk-Bahamas Classic in January as a regular LPGA member. Park, ranked ninth in the world, competed in seven LPGA Tour events this year as a nonmember, and posted four top-10 finishes, three of them at major championships.

Nonmembers can join the LPGA Tour full-time the following year by winning a tournament or making enough money to rank inside the top 40 at the season's end. Park made it by earning 682,000 US dollars on this year's money list.

At home, Park has become this year's money leader with seven victories and a total prize money of more than 1.3 billion won (1.1 million US dollars). Park, who turned pro in 2012, said her goal is to win the LPGA Rookie of the Year award. "I will maintain my style to get it imprinted on the mind of American fans."

Among South Korean fans, Park was popular for her aggressive style and as a long hitting golfer, averaging 265.6 yards off the tee. Her agency, Sema Sports, said Park has purchased a home in Orlando, Florida. She has hired a physical trainer but her caddy will be selected a month later.

Aju News Lim Chang-won = cwlim34@ajunews.com
기사 이미지 확대 보기
닫기