California dreaming: Ko Jin-young just wants to have fun at LPGA major

It has been four years since Ko Jin-young last won a major on the LPGA Tour. But if the No. 1 female golfer in the world is feeling the pressure to end her drought this week at the US Women's Open, she isn't showing it. "I just want to spend good time with my family and friends. That's my goal right now," Ko said at her pretournament press conference at Pebble Beach Golf Links in Pebble Beach, California, on Tuesday. The 78th US Women's Open tees off Thursday. The t

July 5, 2023

World No. 1 Ko Jin-young to resume pursuit of 3rd LPGA major at Pebble Beach

World No. 1 Ko Jin-young will have her second attempt in three weeks to win her third career LPGA major, this time on a famed course in California. Pebble Beach Golf Links in Pebble Beach, California, will host the 78th US Women's Open starting Thursday. Long considered one of the world's most beautiful courses, Pebble Beach has hosted six men's US Open tournaments, but never the women's event until this year. Organized by the United States Golf Association, the US Women'

July 4, 2023

Jenny Shin ties for 8th at LPGA major tournament

Unable to make key putts in the final round, South Korean Jenny Shin has finished tied for eighth at the second major tournament of the 2023 LPGA season. Shin shot a one-over 72 in the weather-interrupted final round at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, New Jersey, on Sunday and ended at five-under 279 for the four-round event. Yin Ruoning of China grabbed her maiden major title at eight-under 276. She carded a bogey-free 67 in the final round to hold

June 26, 2023

Jenny Shin in hunt for maiden LPGA major; Ko Jin-young lurking 4 shots back

South Korean Jenny Shin finds herself one shot off the lead in pursuit of her first career LPGA major title after a strong third-round charge up the leaderboard. Shin fired a bogey-free round of five-under 66 in the third round of the KPMG Women's PGA Championship at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, New Jersey, on Saturday. It was the lowest score in the field on the day and pushed Shin to second place at six-under 207 overall, one behind the leader, Leona Maguire of Ireland, who is tryi

June 25, 2023

Jenny Shin 3 off lead at LPGA major; Ko Jin-young 6 back

Jenny Shin is the top South Korean player after the opening round of the second major championship of the LPGA season. Shin shot a two-under 69 to tie five others for sixth place in the first round of the KPMG Women's PGA Championship at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, New Jersey, on Thursday. The par-71 course played at 6,511 yards in the opening round. Shin, whose Korean given name is Ji-eun, had five birdies against three bogeys. Her lone LPGA win to date came in May 2016. Lee-Anne P

June 23, 2023

World No. 1 Ko Jin-young honored to match LPGA legend's record

South Korean star Ko Jin-young matched an LPGA record to start this week, as she remained at No. 1 in the women's world rankings for the 158th week overall. It tied Ko with Mexican legend Lorena Ochoa for the most weeks spent at the top in LPGA history, a feat that Ko said has made her feel humble. Ko has a chance to own the record by herself at the season's second major tournament, the KPMG Women's PGA Championship, at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, New Jersey. "It'

June 22, 2023

World No. 1 Ko Jin-young eyes 3rd career LPGA major on historic course

Having reclaimed the top spot in the women's world golf rankings this spring, South Korean star Ko Jin-young will take aim at winning her third career LPGA major title this week on a famed track. The KPMG Women's PGA Championship, the second major tournament of the LPGA season, will tee off at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, New Jersey, on Thursday (local time). Founded in 1895, Baltusrol has hosted the U.S. Women's Open twice, along with seven men's U.S. Opens and two me

June 21, 2023

Ko Jin-young ties record for most weeks spent at top of women's golf rankings

South Korean LPGA star Ko Jin-young has tied the record for most weeks spent at No. 1 in the women's world rankings. The LPGA announced Monday that this week marks Ko's 158th week at the top of the rankings, tying the record set by Lorena Ochoa from 2007 to 2010. Ko first rose to No. 1 in April 2019 and has had five different stints atop the rankings. She spent 100 consecutive weeks at the top from July 2019 to June 2021. She fell off the top in November last year while dealing with a

June 20, 2023

Kim Joo-hyung notches first career major top-10 at US Open

Buoyed by his third consecutive round in the 60s, South Korean golfer Kim Joo-hyung has recorded his first top-10 finish at a major championship at the US Open. Kim shot a four-under 276 to tie for eighth place at the US Open at Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Sunday. Kim, who goes by his English name Tom in the US, carded a one-under 69 in the final round, with five birdies, two bogeys and one double bogey. Kim began the third major championship of the season with a 73, but went 68-6

June 19, 2023

Late miscue proves costly as Yang Hee-young misses out on fifth LPGA title

Done in by a late double bogey, South Korean Yang Hee-young has missed out on a chance to end her four-year LPGA title drought. Yang finished tied for third at the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give at Blythefield Country Club in Belmont, Michigan, on Sunday. After shooting a three-under 69, which included a double bogey on the 16th, Yang ended at 18-under, three behind the champion, Leona Maguire of Ireland. Yang was looking for fifth career LPGA title and her first win since February 2019. Th

June 19, 2023

Ko Jin-young back as No. 1 in women's golf rankings

On the strength of her recent LPGA victory, South Korean star Ko Jin-young has returned to the top of the women's golf rankings. Ko climbed a spot to No. 1 in the latest rankings announced Monday, reclaiming the place she had last occupied on Oct. 24, 2022. Ko fell to as low as No. 5 in February this year but has since won twice on the LPGA Tour to claw her way back to the top spot. The women's world rankings evaluate players' performance over a rolling two-year period weighted in

May 23, 2023

Lone S. Korean left at PGA Championship struggles in 3rd round

Lee Kyoung-hoon, the only South Korean player remaining at the PGA Championship, has taken a few steps back with a bumpy third round at the season's second major tournament. Lee posted a round of five-over 75 on the East Course at Oak Hill Country Club in Pittsford, New York, on Saturday, dropping to six-over for the tournament. Lee fell from a tie for 19th to a tie for 42nd place. After an opening par, Lee picked up four bogeys over his next five holes, with a birdie on the par-5 fourth

May 21, 2023

One S. Korean player makes cut at PGA Championship

Only one out of five South Koreans in action has made the cut at the PGA Championship, the second major tournament of the men's golf season. Lee Kyoung-hoon, a two-time PGA Tour winner, will get to play on the weekend after shooting a two-under 68 to reach one-over for the tournament on the East Course at Oak Hill Country Club in Pittsford, New York, on Friday (local time). Lee made three birdies against one bogey to post an under-par score after starting his championship with a 73 on Thurs

May 20, 2023

S. Koreans well off pace after opening round at PGA Championship

South Korean golfers found themselves well out of contention after the opening round of the PGA Championship, the second major tournament of the season, with no one posting an under-par score. When the play was suspended due to darkness at the East Course of Oak Hill Country Club in Pittsford, New York, on Thursday, four of five South Koreans in the field were tied at three-over, with only three having managed to finish their 18 holes. Lee Kyoung-hoon finished his round at three-over 73. Lee rec

May 19, 2023

In-form S. Koreans chasing maiden major at PGA Championship

Two South Korean golfers fresh off strong performances will be in pursuit of their maiden major title this week in the state of New York. Im Sung-jae and Kim Si-woo will be among five South Koreans in action at the PGA Championship, which tees off at the East Course of Oak Hill Country Club in Pittsford, New York, on Thursday. A total of 156 players will go after the coveted Wanamaker Trophy. This will be the second major tournament of the PGA Tour season, following the Masters in April. Im won

May 17, 2023

Seoul to host MLB season-opening games in 2024: report

South Korea will likely host Major League Baseball regular season games for the first time at the start of the 2024 season, a US report claimed on Sunday, with a familiar face returning to his old stomping ground for the historic occasion. Citing sources, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported that the two-game series between the San Diego Padres, featuring South Korean infielder Kim Ha-seong, and the Los Angeles Dodgers to be played in Seoul in late March 2024 is in the works. If finalized, these

May 8, 2023

Landers reach 20-win plateau first in 2nd straight KBO season

By winning their fifth consecutive game on Sunday, the SSG Landers became the first team in South Korean baseball to reach the 20-win mark in 2023. That may seem to be an insignificant milestone in a 144-game season, but beating everyone to that mark has often translated into postseason success for teams. The Landers edged out the Kiwoom Heroes 7-6 in 11 innings to improve to 20-10 for the season. It was their fifth consecutive win, putting them two games ahead of the Lotte Giants (15-9) in firs

May 8, 2023

S. Korea salvages 2 wins to close out International Crown

With its fate long sealed, South Korea salvaged two wins against Japan on its final day at the International Crown, the biennial LPGA match play competition. In Day 3 of the four-ball play, Choi Hye-jin and Chun In-gee teamed up to defeat Nasa Hataoka and Ayaka Furue 3 & 1 at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco on Saturday. Ko Jin-young and Kim Hyo-joo, the other South Korean team in action, held off Yuka Saso and Hinako Shibuno 3 & 2. South Korea, the defending International Crown champio

May 7, 2023

Defending champion S. Korea eliminated early in International Crown

South Korea will not get to defend its title at the International Crown, the biennial LPGA match play competition. For the second straight day, South Korea lost both of its matches in the team competition at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco on Friday. In four-ball play in Pool B, Ko Jin-young and Kim Hyo-joo lost 3 & 2 to Patty Tavatanakit and Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand. Choi Hye-jin and Chun In-gee fell 2 & 1 against the sisters Ariya Jutanugarn and Moriya Jutanugarn. With a 0-4-0 re

May 6, 2023

S. Korean LPGA star thinks team 'can win again' at International Crown

The highest-ranked female golfer from South Korea believes the country "can win again" at this week's LPGA match play competition. South Korea is the defending champion at the International Crown, whose fourth edition will tee off at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco on Thursday. At the pre-competition press conference on the eve of the event, Ko Jin-young, world No. 3 and one of four South Korean players in the field, said she likes her team's chances of repeating. "Def

May 4, 2023