Energised In-Bee takes aim at eighth Major

KILDEER ( Illinois): Park In-bee (pic) is energised 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 KPMGWomen’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,” In-bee 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, In-bee 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 for the first of his three Majors. And there is no shortage of story lines this week.

There’s In-bee, 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,” In-bee said. “I know Ariya has been having a great season. Danielle is the defending champion of this championship, so year, they both have good momentum going into this week. Good momentum is a good thing to have in a group.”

If In-bee doesn’t win, maybe Jutanugarn will. She’s a nine-time Tour winner with two Majors – including this year’s US Women’s Open. Then again, older sister Moriya Jutanugarn is third on the money list.

There’s Michelle Wie, trying to win a second Major to go with the 2014 US Women’s Open. There’s Lexi Thompson, ranked third overall and with nine Tour victories. And there’s Kang, who had a Major breakthrough at last year’s KPMG. — AP