In 2019, Ha Na Jang claimed her fifth LPGA Tour win at the BMW Ladies Championship. The KLPGA superstar and former Tour player was the second non-Member to that year, and though many may remember her final birdie to defeat Danielle Kang in a three-hole sudden-death playoff, one of Jang’s more memorable moments came for her on the 16th hole during the final round of play.
“I know that a lot of the fans probably remember my birdie on the 17th in the playoff. But I actually remember the 16th hole much more because I had three metres to make par putt, and I hit the ball, and it seemed like it was slipping past the hole, but actually it came back and went in,” said Jang. “And at the time there was a sizable earthquake in a nearby city called, and a lot of people were getting emergency alerts on their cell phones. So their cell phones were vibrating. So I joked that it was the vibration of all the cell phones that nudged the ball in.”
Jokes aside, it was a spectacular performance for Jang, who said it felt off not being able to return in 2020 after the event’s postponement due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 29-year-old readies for this year’s title defense after an outstanding 2021 on the KLPGA. Through 21 events, Jang has earned victories at the LOTTE Open and KB Financial Group STAR Championship. Apart from three withdraws this season, she has yet to finish worse than 17th when competing, and has also recorded an additional five top-three finishes in her native country, along with her wins.
The Rolex Rankings No. 26 said she feels it’s a “privilege” to feel the pressure of being a defending champion, and hopes to carry her momentum from this year through this week’s BMW Ladies Championship once again. “I had a really good season, so I guess that there is a little bit of pressure. But I think that I can keep up the momentum and in good form. And I had small injuries here and there, and I think that my fans are concerned about that, but I think that at this point I just need to embrace and really befriend my injuries,” said Jang. “I have a lot of positive energy, so I think that I'm going to do well this week.”
)
)
)
)
