This time last year, nearly no one knew the name In Gee Chun.
That all changed over the course of four summer days in Lancaster, Pa., when the affable Republic of Korea native wowed the golfing world and won the U.S. Women’s Open. The KLPGA member birdied three of her final four holes en route to a sensational final-round 66 that left her a stroke clear of countrywoman Amy Yang for Chun’s first career LPGA title.
The friendly player with an easy smile pocketed $810,000 and gained LPGA Tour access, which she decided to claim this season. The U.S. Women’s Open victory was a dream come true for Chun and proved just how open the tournament is when the world’s best female golfers gather together.
“This year at the beginning of the season, I played four tournaments at LPGA,” Chun said after her big win. “I had a great experience from those four tournaments, and that has led to three wins in Korea and one major win in Japan. And with that, with all those four wins this year, I got a lot of confidence bringing into this tournament. And that’s why I could enjoy every moment of the tournament.”
Enjoy it she did, and Chun has enjoyed her 2016 rookie season as well. She enters this week’s $4.5 million event with six top-10 finishes, including a trio of runner-up finishes, and is the Tour’s leading rookie.
She’ll be looking to re-create the magic from Lancaster Country Club at CordeValle in San Martin, Calif., this week, a challenging par-72, 6,752-yard course that should test players’ resourcefulness. Chun will also have to contend with an absolutely loaded field that includes world No. 1 Lydia Ko, the red-hot Brooke Henderson – who successfully defended her title in Portland, Ore., on Sunday – and three-time tournament winner Ariya Jutanugarn.
This week’s 71st staging of the event is also the next installment in the race for the Rolex ANNIKA Major Award, a prestigious trophy given to the player who performs best in the LPGA’s five major championships. A player must win a major to be eligible for the honor, and ANA Inspiration champion Ko leads KPMG Women’s PGA Championship winner Henderson 84-62 heading into this week.
Speaking of majors, eight of Chun’s fellow U.S. Women’s Open champions are teeing it up this week: Na Yeon Choi (2012), Paula Creamer (2010), Eun-Hee Ji (2009), Cristie Kerr (2007), Se Ri Pak (1998), So Yeon Ryu (2011), Karrie Webb (2000-01) and Michelle Wie (2014).
The field also included a talented group of 25 amateurs looking to become the first non-professional to win the U.S. Women’s Open since Catherine Lacoste in 1967. That group includes top-ranked amateur Hannah O’Sullivan, second-ranked Leona Maguire and No. 5 Sierra Brooks, so the battle for low amateur should be a good one.
The LPGA’s longest-running tournament, the U.S. Women’s Open will be broadcast live from 3-8 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1 on Thursday and Friday and from 3-7 p.m. on Fox on Saturday and Sunday. There is a staggering amount of talent gathered in California this week, and the tournament should be 72 holes of excitement that will turn heads around the globe.
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