Women’s Open is Park’s place
AFTER WEEKS of uncertainty, the U.S. Women’s Open stopped being about Donald Trump, his course and his views toward women and it turned out to be what the USGA wanted: a good tournament on a good course.
Not surprisingly, the best player this week won, making up for a bad weekend in this event a year ago.
Sung Hyun Park shot her second straight 5-under 67 on Sunday and won a final-round battle with front-running Shanshan Feng and teenage amateur sensation Hye-Jin Choi at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J.
The 23-year-old Park birdied the 15th to move into a tie for the lead and the 17th to open a two-shot edge after Choi made a double bogey to squander her chance of becoming the second amateur to win the event.
Park finished with an 11-under total of 277, two shots better than Choi, who shot a finalround 71.
It was a far cry from a year ago when Park hit into the water on the 18th hole at CordeValle in California and missed a playoff with eventual winner Britanny Lang and Anna Nordqvist by two shots.
“The experience was definitely worth it, because based on that good experience that I had last year, I think I was able to garner the championship this year,” Park said through an interpreter.
The USGA was criticized for not moving the event from Trump National after comments made by the President about women came to light during the election campaign. There were threats of protests, especially after Trump decided to attend the tournament after his trip to Paris on Thursday and Friday.
Trump arrived Friday and became the first sitting President to attend a Women’s Open, seeing parts of the final three rounds. There was a small protest after he arrived at his box near the 15th green shortly after 3 p.m., but it was peaceful.
Park needed a fine chip from over the green on the par-5 18th hole to save par and win the $900,000 top prize from the $5 million event.
Walking to the scoring tent to sign her card, she got a thumps-up from Trump from his box.
“Well, to be honest with you, I still cannot believe that it is actually happening,” said Park, who is the leading rookie on the LPGA Tour. “It almost feels like I’m floating on a cloud in the sky. Of course, I did have many winnings in other tournaments, but winning here at the U.S. Open means so much more.”