LPGA stars extol virtues of int’l team event
— International stars of women’s golf extolled the virtues Monday of an up-and-coming international competition that has given them a rare opportunity to play for their nation.
The UL International Crown, inaugurated by the LPGA Tour in 2014, will come to South Korea for its third edition in 2018. It’s a new international team event in women’s golf alongside the Solheim Cup, the match play contest between the United States and Europe.
The International Crown is more inclusive. It invites the top eight nations based on the world ranking positions of their four best players and has featured countries like South Korea, China, Australia and Japan — nations that aren’t part of the Solheim Cup.
The teams and their participating players for the 2018 event won’t be determined until next summer, but it didn’t stop international faces of women’s golf from getting ahead of themselves and looking forward to the third International Crown.
South Korea was chosen as the host nation in 2014, and Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea in Incheon, just west of Seoul, was picked as the venue last year. Amy Yang, world No. 13 from South Korea, said the country is a well-deserving host, given the country’s passion for golf.
“I still have vivid memories of the last International Crown, and playing for your country will just add to your patriotism,” Yang said of the event, in which South Korea finished second to the United States. “There are so many great players from my country that I don’t know if I’ll have another opportunity. I’ll have to do my absolute best.”
South Korea is currently first in the team standings, with four of the world’s top 10 players. Spain, which won in 2014 but missed the 2016 competition, is on the bubble in eighth place. And Azahara Munoz who played on that 2014 squad, said she’d like nothing more than another chance to win the International Crown.
“There’s nothing like playing for your country with your teammates,” the 2010 LPGA Rookie of the Year said. “I still remember the 2014 event like it was yesterday. It was probably the best tournament I’ve ever played in my life. I’m trying to play my best golf and play in front of all the amazing fans that I am sure are all going to come out and watch.”
Pak Se-ri named honorary director
South Korean golf legend Pak Se-ri was named an honorary executive director Monday for an LPGA international match play competition to be held in South Korea next year.
Pak, a World Golf Hall of Famer, will serve in that role for the UL International Crown from Oct. 4 to 7 at Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea in Incheon, just west of Seoul.
This will be the third edition of the biennial competition and the first to be held outside the United States.
“I’d like to thank the organizers for giving me this honorary position,” Pak said at the event’s media conference at Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea. “As the quality of Korean golf improves, I realize we as a country are getting international recognition for our golfing prowess. I’ll do the best I can to contribute to golf not just in Korea but the rest of the world.”