Women of the links

bangkokbobby · 09-01-2009, 11:36 PM

This is from the JoongAng Daily...nothing we don't already know...but it's always nice to read about Se Ri in print, especially when she says she could play 10 or 20 more years...hooray!!

...also, I didn't realize the local Korean press thought so little of her chances when she decided to come over to the States that they said it would be painful for the nation (South Korea) to watch her fail...

...yeah...how did that work out?

original link: INSIDE JoongAng Daily

Elf · 09-02-2009, 12:16 AM

Great report about Se Ri. I wonder how many fans of the LPGA are there because of her. I must confess I slowly become a fan of the LPGA because of the great Korean Lady. What an influential personality. Kudos to Se Ri Pak.

MarinePaul · 09-02-2009, 06:17 AM

Originally Posted by Elf

Great report about Se Ri. I wonder how many fans of the LPGA are there because of her. I must confess I slowly become a fan of the LPGA because of the great Korean Lady. What an influential personality. Kudos to Se Ri Pak.

Se Ri also made me a fan of the LPGA. If I'm not mistaken, DB also started following the LPGA because of her. She's a true pioneer.

Saint-Just X · 09-02-2009, 07:04 AM

Nice article.

It's good to hear that Se Ri has still got goals she wants to achieve in the game,too...

Pax Vobiscum
Saint-Just X

bangkokbobby · 09-02-2009, 03:37 PM

Here's another story about the Asian influence on golf in general. One interesting aspect that is left out is Tiger's influence. Like myself, Tiger is half Thai and half African American. He is hugely popular among Thai people and is an global icon. While people in most places see him as only black, his Thai heritage is certainly celebrated in Thailand. I'm sorry, this is a sore spot for me...like Tiger, I am pidgeonholed as one thing without my Asian side acknowledged...so it kind of bugged me when Yang won they called him the first Asian Major winner without at least acknowledging that Tiger is Asian American...I know the reasons why, of course...but maybe this is just my little pet peeve...

original link: CANOE -- SLAM! Sports - Columnists - Saelhof: Asian sensations give game boost

by Todd Saelhof

Before Y.E. Yang, Asia's link to the golf world was dominated by the women on tour.

You know their names -- Jayai Shin, In-Kyung Kim, Ai Miyazato, Yani Tseng

OK, so they're not exactly household handles.

But they are just a few talented reasons why the women's game has picked up steam in the last handful of years and why the future looks bright for Chinese, Korean, Taiwanese and Japanese golfers.

Try Eun-Hee Ji, Song-Hee Kim and Na Yeon Choi.

And Ji Young Oh, Jeong Jang and Sun Young Yoo.

The list of Asians on the LPGA Tour goes on and on and on, with South Korea alone boasting 47 golfers on the circuit.

"All of a sudden, just one year, there was 20 South Koreans in Q-school," said Taiwan native Candie Kung.

"Then, it was 30 the next year, and they kept coming year after year."

And year after year, the phenoms from the Far East keep climbing the money ladder on the LPGA Tour.

Heading into the 2009 CN Canadian Women's Open at Priddis Greens Golf & Country Club, Shin, Kim, Miyazato and Tseng were Nos. 2-5, respectively, on the LPGA's money list this season.

Tseng finished third last year with $1.75 million, and Inbee Park was eighth with nearly $1.14 million. Two years ago, Mi Hyun Kim and Seon Hwa Lee were fourth and fifth on the cash list.

The Americans no longer dominate the LPGA Tour.

"Everybody wants to win," said Park, a 21-year-old South Korean. "And when you're overseas, you're really far away from home, so you're motivated to do well.

"Whenever I look at the driving range, it seems to be full of Asians, especially Koreans -- early in the morning or late in the afternoon," Park continued. "They're out there practising all the time -- that's why they do well."

On off-days, Park herself is practising on the course anywhere between three and four hours. She says that's at least an hour less than other Asians on the tour.

"I think the key to the success is hard work," said China's Shanshan Feng, who was 36th on last year's money list with US$472,758.

"Before a tournament, Asian players always came to the course first to check and to practise and are there even into the night. Asians are not stronger than other players, but because we are hard working, we can compete with them on the tour -- and sometimes win."

Proof of that came last week, when 19-year-old M.J. Hur continued the recent Korean success with a playoff win over Suzann Pettersen at the Safeway Classic in Oregon. Hur's the cover story on SeoulSisters.com, a website celebrating Korean golfers of the LPGA.

It's a site that's a big hit among golf fans overseas and brings out more of the personality of the Koreans on tour.

In public, they're not all like Christina Kim, an original Seoul Sister who's become a fan favourite since her spirited enthusiasm spiced up the 2009 Solheim Cup.

No matter, because their success on the links is highly praised back home.

Miyazato's story didn't go unnoticed in Japan, as dozens of reporters from her native country followed her around the globe, interviewing her after every practice and tournament round from the time she blew away the LPGA Q-school field by a record 12 strokes in 2005. She's considered one of the big three athletes in Japan, alongside baseball stars Ichiro Suzuki and Hideki Matsui.

"Golf is popular in Asia but not popular enough in China," explained Feng. "As the first Asian player to win the PGA Championship, Y.E. Yang gives a shot in the arm to Asian golf. The most obvious change in China is many junior golfers setting their goal of playing in the PGA."

It's also gaining popularity in Taiwan.

"Slowly," said Kung, who is 19th with $486,041 on this year's money list. "We don't have that many families who can afford to play golf there. In Taiwan, it's very expensive to play golf. The government doesn't help -- they don't understand where golf stands in the whole world.

"And our body is not built to play the other sports that are played here (in North America)," added the 5-foot-6 Kung. "We're little, so we're into tae-kwon do and ping-pong."

Elf · 09-02-2009, 05:37 PM

bkb: Two comments about your post including the article.
1) Tiger Woods is very special: He is an American with an ancestry of one-quarter Chinese, one-quarter Thai, one-quarter African American, one-eighth Native American, and one-eighth Dutch. Interesting combination and Thais have all the rights of being proud of their share of a great golfer.
2) A USA player has not dominated the LPGA since 1993 (16 years) when Betsy King was the money leader. They have a chance this year with Cristie Kerr. She has a good chance but nine of the ones chasing her for Money leader are not American (the only other American is Paula Creamer). In the Rolex Player of the Year it is very much the same (Brittany Linciome and Paula have a slight chance).
Of those that can take over the leadership from C. Kerr five are Asians.
The Americans are due. Will see if Kerr can keep her leadership.
It will be ironic that the first American to dominate the LPGA in 17 years is not well liked by the American LPGA fans.

bangkokbobby · 09-02-2009, 10:37 PM

Originally Posted by Elf

bkb: Two comments about your post including the article.
1) Tiger Woods is very special: He is an American with an ancestry of one-quarter Chinese, one-quarter Thai, one-quarter African American, one-eighth Native American, and one-eighth Dutch. Interesting combination and Thais have all the rights of being proud of their share of a great golfer.
2) A USA player has not dominated the LPGA since 1993 (16 years) when Betsy King was the money leader. They have a chance this year with Cristie Kerr. She has a good chance but nine of the ones chasing her for Money leader are not American (the only other American is Paula Creamer). In the Rolex Player of the Year it is very much the same (Brittany Linciome and Paula have a slight chance).
Of those that can take over the leadership from C. Kerr five are Asians.
The Americans are due. Will see if Kerr can keep her leadership.
It will be ironic that the first American to dominate the LPGA in 17 years is not well liked by the American LPGA fans.

No American has dominated the LPGA since 1993?

Uno momento, por favor...isn't Mexico part of the Americas? Doesn't that make Lorena a dominant American?

I'M JUST KIDDING!!! I KNOW WHAT YOU MEANT...I'M JUST HAVING FUN!! DON'T KILL ME!

Elf · 09-02-2009, 10:49 PM

Originally Posted by bangkokbobby

No American has dominated the LPGA since 1993?

Uno momento, por favor...isn't Mexico part of the Americas? Doesn't that make Lorena a dominant American?

I'M JUST KIDDING!!! I KNOW WHAT YOU MEANT...I'M JUST HAVING FUN!! DON'T KILL ME!

Wow, how many languages you write and speak? I am bilingual but I am always corrected by experts in Spanish and English. When I try my German, people just laugh at me.

bangkokbobby · 09-03-2009, 11:22 PM

Originally Posted by Elf

Wow, how many languages you write and speak? I am bilingual but I am always corrected by experts in Spanish and English. When I try my German, people just laugh at me.

Just English...only a little basic Mandarin, a few Thai words and rudimentary sentences...as for Spanish...No hablo español, sôlo hablo inglés...I just like sticking little phrases in once in a while...

09-01-2009, 11:36 PM	#1
bangkokbobby Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: New York Posts: 2,893	Women of the links This is from the JoongAng Daily...nothing we don't already know...but it's always nice to read about Se Ri in print, especially when she says she could play 10 or 20 more years...hooray!! ...also, I didn't realize the local Korean press thought so little of her chances when she decided to come over to the States that they said it would be painful for the nation (South Korea) to watch her fail... ...yeah...how did that work out? original link: INSIDE JoongAng Daily __________________ Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary. ---Steve Jobs http://bangkokbobbysports.wordpress.com/

09-02-2009, 06:17 AM	#3
MarinePaul Moderator Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Warren, Ohio Posts: 8,001	Originally Posted by Elf Great report about Se Ri. I wonder how many fans of the LPGA are there because of her. I must confess I slowly become a fan of the LPGA because of the great Korean Lady. What an influential personality. Kudos to Se Ri Pak. Se Ri also made me a fan of the LPGA. If I'm not mistaken, DB also started following the LPGA because of her. She's a true pioneer. __________________ Happiness isn't getting what you want, it's wanting what you have.

09-02-2009, 07:04 AM	#4
Saint-Just X Senior Member Contests: Joint 3nd place overall winner 2010 Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 1,674	Nice article. It's good to hear that Se Ri has still got goals she wants to achieve in the game,too... Pax Vobiscum Saint-Just X __________________ I have sent the most relevant posts you made about Paula Creamer to her lawyers. Hope they take action against your statements - Elf

09-02-2009, 03:37 PM	#5
bangkokbobby Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: New York Posts: 2,893	Here's another story about the Asian influence on golf in general. One interesting aspect that is left out is Tiger's influence. Like myself, Tiger is half Thai and half African American. He is hugely popular among Thai people and is an global icon. While people in most places see him as only black, his Thai heritage is certainly celebrated in Thailand. I'm sorry, this is a sore spot for me...like Tiger, I am pidgeonholed as one thing without my Asian side acknowledged...so it kind of bugged me when Yang won they called him the first Asian Major winner without at least acknowledging that Tiger is Asian American...I know the reasons why, of course...but maybe this is just my little pet peeve... original link: CANOE -- SLAM! Sports - Columnists - Saelhof: Asian sensations give game boost by Todd Saelhof Before Y.E. Yang, Asia's link to the golf world was dominated by the women on tour. You know their names -- Jayai Shin, In-Kyung Kim, Ai Miyazato, Yani Tseng OK, so they're not exactly household handles. But they are just a few talented reasons why the women's game has picked up steam in the last handful of years and why the future looks bright for Chinese, Korean, Taiwanese and Japanese golfers. Try Eun-Hee Ji, Song-Hee Kim and Na Yeon Choi. And Ji Young Oh, Jeong Jang and Sun Young Yoo. The list of Asians on the LPGA Tour goes on and on and on, with South Korea alone boasting 47 golfers on the circuit. "All of a sudden, just one year, there was 20 South Koreans in Q-school," said Taiwan native Candie Kung. "Then, it was 30 the next year, and they kept coming year after year." And year after year, the phenoms from the Far East keep climbing the money ladder on the LPGA Tour. Heading into the 2009 CN Canadian Women's Open at Priddis Greens Golf & Country Club, Shin, Kim, Miyazato and Tseng were Nos. 2-5, respectively, on the LPGA's money list this season. Tseng finished third last year with $1.75 million, and Inbee Park was eighth with nearly $1.14 million. Two years ago, Mi Hyun Kim and Seon Hwa Lee were fourth and fifth on the cash list. The Americans no longer dominate the LPGA Tour. "Everybody wants to win," said Park, a 21-year-old South Korean. "And when you're overseas, you're really far away from home, so you're motivated to do well. "Whenever I look at the driving range, it seems to be full of Asians, especially Koreans -- early in the morning or late in the afternoon," Park continued. "They're out there practising all the time -- that's why they do well." On off-days, Park herself is practising on the course anywhere between three and four hours. She says that's at least an hour less than other Asians on the tour. "I think the key to the success is hard work," said China's Shanshan Feng, who was 36th on last year's money list with US$472,758. "Before a tournament, Asian players always came to the course first to check and to practise and are there even into the night. Asians are not stronger than other players, but because we are hard working, we can compete with them on the tour -- and sometimes win." Proof of that came last week, when 19-year-old M.J. Hur continued the recent Korean success with a playoff win over Suzann Pettersen at the Safeway Classic in Oregon. Hur's the cover story on SeoulSisters.com, a website celebrating Korean golfers of the LPGA. It's a site that's a big hit among golf fans overseas and brings out more of the personality of the Koreans on tour. In public, they're not all like Christina Kim, an original Seoul Sister who's become a fan favourite since her spirited enthusiasm spiced up the 2009 Solheim Cup. No matter, because their success on the links is highly praised back home. Miyazato's story didn't go unnoticed in Japan, as dozens of reporters from her native country followed her around the globe, interviewing her after every practice and tournament round from the time she blew away the LPGA Q-school field by a record 12 strokes in 2005. She's considered one of the big three athletes in Japan, alongside baseball stars Ichiro Suzuki and Hideki Matsui. "Golf is popular in Asia but not popular enough in China," explained Feng. "As the first Asian player to win the PGA Championship, Y.E. Yang gives a shot in the arm to Asian golf. The most obvious change in China is many junior golfers setting their goal of playing in the PGA." It's also gaining popularity in Taiwan. "Slowly," said Kung, who is 19th with $486,041 on this year's money list. "We don't have that many families who can afford to play golf there. In Taiwan, it's very expensive to play golf. The government doesn't help -- they don't understand where golf stands in the whole world. "And our body is not built to play the other sports that are played here (in North America)," added the 5-foot-6 Kung. "We're little, so we're into tae-kwon do and ping-pong." __________________ Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary. ---Steve Jobs http://bangkokbobbysports.wordpress.com/

09-02-2009, 10:37 PM	#7
bangkokbobby Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: New York Posts: 2,893	Originally Posted by Elf bkb: Two comments about your post including the article. 1) Tiger Woods is very special: He is an American with an ancestry of one-quarter Chinese, one-quarter Thai, one-quarter African American, one-eighth Native American, and one-eighth Dutch. Interesting combination and Thais have all the rights of being proud of their share of a great golfer. 2) A USA player has not dominated the LPGA since 1993 (16 years) when Betsy King was the money leader. They have a chance this year with Cristie Kerr. She has a good chance but nine of the ones chasing her for Money leader are not American (the only other American is Paula Creamer). In the Rolex Player of the Year it is very much the same (Brittany Linciome and Paula have a slight chance). Of those that can take over the leadership from C. Kerr five are Asians. The Americans are due. Will see if Kerr can keep her leadership. It will be ironic that the first American to dominate the LPGA in 17 years is not well liked by the American LPGA fans. No American has dominated the LPGA since 1993? Uno momento, por favor...isn't Mexico part of the Americas? Doesn't that make Lorena a dominant American? I'M JUST KIDDING!!! I KNOW WHAT YOU MEANT...I'M JUST HAVING FUN!! DON'T KILL ME! __________________ Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary. ---Steve Jobs http://bangkokbobbysports.wordpress.com/

09-02-2009, 12:16 AM	#2
Elf Senior Member Contests: Poker Champ December 2010 Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Mexico Posts: 1,524	Great report about Se Ri. I wonder how many fans of the LPGA are there because of her. I must confess I slowly become a fan of the LPGA because of the great Korean Lady. What an influential personality. Kudos to Se Ri Pak.

09-02-2009, 05:37 PM	#6
Elf Senior Member Contests: Poker Champ December 2010 Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Mexico Posts: 1,524	bkb: Two comments about your post including the article. 1) Tiger Woods is very special: He is an American with an ancestry of one-quarter Chinese, one-quarter Thai, one-quarter African American, one-eighth Native American, and one-eighth Dutch. Interesting combination and Thais have all the rights of being proud of their share of a great golfer. 2) A USA player has not dominated the LPGA since 1993 (16 years) when Betsy King was the money leader. They have a chance this year with Cristie Kerr. She has a good chance but nine of the ones chasing her for Money leader are not American (the only other American is Paula Creamer). In the Rolex Player of the Year it is very much the same (Brittany Linciome and Paula have a slight chance). Of those that can take over the leadership from C. Kerr five are Asians. The Americans are due. Will see if Kerr can keep her leadership. It will be ironic that the first American to dominate the LPGA in 17 years is not well liked by the American LPGA fans.

09-02-2009, 10:49 PM	#8
Elf Senior Member Contests: Poker Champ December 2010 Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Mexico Posts: 1,524	Originally Posted by bangkokbobby No American has dominated the LPGA since 1993? Uno momento, por favor...isn't Mexico part of the Americas? Doesn't that make Lorena a dominant American? I'M JUST KIDDING!!! I KNOW WHAT YOU MEANT...I'M JUST HAVING FUN!! DON'T KILL ME! Wow, how many languages you write and speak? I am bilingual but I am always corrected by experts in Spanish and English. When I try my German, people just laugh at me.

09-03-2009, 11:22 PM	#9
bangkokbobby Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: New York Posts: 2,893	Originally Posted by Elf Wow, how many languages you write and speak? I am bilingual but I am always corrected by experts in Spanish and English. When I try my German, people just laugh at me. Just English...only a little basic Mandarin, a few Thai words and rudimentary sentences...as for Spanish...No hablo español, sôlo hablo inglés...I just like sticking little phrases in once in a while... __________________ Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary. ---Steve Jobs http://bangkokbobbysports.wordpress.com/

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