“Every time I come back, I feel really back at home.”
Danielle Kang holds the city of Busan close to her heart. Not only was it her father’s birthplace, but she remembers her visits during summer and winter vacations along with her time in elementary school in the area. Upon returning in 2019, Kang said she was flooded with emotions during the week from her strong memories, especially of those with her dad, who passed away in 2013 of cancer. “There's a lot of memories…the smells, the tastes, a food, the vibe and the aura of this place,” said the 29-year-old.
With that, Kang entered the inaugural tournament with personal motivation. A final-round 64, the tournament’s 18-hole record, earned her a spot in a playoff with Ha Na Jang, who eventually defeated Kang with a birdie on the third extra hole. Though she came up short of another victory on the LPGA Tour, Kang said she still walked away feeling victorious.
“I saw my dad's colleagues come out and watch me. They made banners. I had so many fans in Busan. And I was so happy to be here,” said Kang. “I really wish I could have won, but I felt like I walked away with a win because people really remembered my dad. My name was everywhere in the city of Busan, and that really made me happy for people to remember him, people that knew him. Everyone that came up to me, they know my dad, they went to high school or elementary school, whatever it may be, that makes me happy. So those things I remember in 2019 were a lot of happy memories.”
Kang said it’s her goal to win in Busan, something she’ll strive to fulfill this week. Coming off a third-place finish in the individual event at the Aramco Team Series in New York, Kang has amassed four top-10 finishes in her last eight LPGA Tour starts. The Rolex Rankings No. 10 is comfortable with the work she’s put into her game in the last few weeks and is focused on keeping her play consistent from tee to green.
“I feel good about my game, but I don't feel solid about my game. That's just the truth. I had a really, really tough year. I know I haven't played as great as people expected me to play. And expectations are all relative, but for me it's a progress and process, and I've been hitting the ball really, really well,” said Kang. “And I know that sometimes some part of my game gets really hot while the other part of my game gets a little cold. So I could have thought that I could play better here or there, but mostly for me I just need to find my consistency and build that foundation, and that's what I'm still working towards.”
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