Injury endangers win streak, career
Inbee Park is going for a record fourth consecutive win in the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship this week while trying to earn a plaque in the LPGA Hall of Fame.
If only her left thumb will let her.
The winner of 17 LPGA titles, including seven major championships, has dealt with ligament damage in her thumb this season, an injury that not only threatens her march to the Hall of Fame and the Olympics but also could force her to call it a career.
While she tied for sixth in the ANA Inspiration, the first major of the season, and finished second in the Kia Classic, she simply hasn’t been the Park of the past. The player who has won 14 titles and six majors over the past three years hasn’t won this season.
Park, 27, was forced to take a month off to rest the thumb, and upon her return she finished in a tie for 68th. Then the world No. 2 was forced to withdraw in her last two starts.
In her last start, in the Volvik Championship, she shot 84 — her highest score in 10 years in an LPGA event. In her post-round interview, she said, “It was torture out there.
“Obviously, I’m just really restricted on my swing. To make a couple movements, it’s painful,” she said. “Just wanted to play with the pain and just to see if I can get over it.”
Park has earned the 27 points needed to gain entrance into the Hall of Fame. But to meet the required 10-year membership for induction, she has to make 10 starts this season.
She had made nine. She has to complete the first round in the Women’s PGA Championship to qualify for the Hall of Fame.
“So I’d really like to play in the KPMG tournament, defend my title,” Park said at the Volvik Championship. “I have a lot of family and friends coming that week, so I’d like to play through that week.
“I don’t know, that could be it, so I’m just going to have to wait and see.”