Park takes aim at eighth major

KILDEER, Illinois — Inbee Park is energized and ready to take aim at her eighth major.

The thumb and back that bothered her in recent years are fine. Though, one thing is weighing on the LPGA Hall of Famer entering the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. Someone broke into her house in Las Vegas last week, and she’s still not sure exactly what was taken.

“Talking to police, talking to insurance,” Park said. “It’s so hard when you’re not there trying to figure out what’s lost. I mean, this is the life we get on the road.”

The home crisis aside, Park appears to be in a good place. The top-ranked South Korean star tops a loaded field at Kemper Lakes in the third of five majors on the LPGA Tour schedule. They are trying to conquer a challenging course where the late Payne Stewart won the 1989 PGA Championship. And there is no shortage of story lines this week.

There’s Park, trying to win the event for the fourth time. She’ll be teeing off in a powerhouse group with money leader Ariya Jutanugarn and defending champion Danielle Kang.

“I’m really happy to play with them,” Park said. “I know Ariya has been having a great season. Danielle is the defending champion of this championship, so they both have good momentum going into this week.”

If Park doesn’t win, maybe Jutanugarn will. She’s a nine-time tour winner with two majors — including this year’s U.S. Women’s Open.