The Korea Herald

Golf: Ko beats Yang for Australian Open crown

Feb 22, 2015

MELBOURNE (AFP) - Teenage world No.1 Lydia Ko added the Australian Open to her growing list of achievements with a two-stroke win at Royal Melbourne on Sunday.The 17-year-old New Zealander became the youngest-ever world No.1 earlier this month and is now the youngest player to win the Australian Open crown.It was her first tournament victory since moving to the top of the world rankings.Despite the hot and steamy conditions, Ko finished at nine under 283 after a closing two-under 71 to claim the
17-year-old golfer Lydia Ko already looking to retirement

Feb 18, 2015

Only 17, top-ranked Lydia Ko says she's already planning to retire from golf by the time she's 30, and become a psychologist.Ko makes her second start at No. 1 in Thursday's first round of the Women's Australian Open at Royal Melbourne along with Karrie Webb and Australia's Su Oh, who won the Australian Ladies Masters last week in her second start as a professional.The South Korean-born Ko says she will soon start an on-line psychology degree to prepare for life after golf."I say my plan is to r
Gov't mulls tax cuts for golfers on cue from president

Feb 4, 2015

The government is weighing various measures to vitalize golf, an official said Wednesday, quickly picking up a cue from President Park Geun-hye who a day earlier said the sport should be played more. The senior official said a meeting with the related ministries will be held soon to check on what can be done. "Lowering taxes has been one of the main demands by golfers and country clubs in the past," said the finance ministry insider, who declined to be identified. Lowering golf-related taxes
S. Korean Choi Na-yeon wins 2015 LPGA Tour season opener

Feb 2, 2015

South Korea's Choi Na-yeon captured the 2015 LPGA Tour season opener in Florida on Saturday.Choi won the inaugural Coates Golf Championship by one stroke over three golfers, including fellow South Korean Jang Ha-na and the teen prodigy Lydia Ko.Choi shot a four-under 68 in the final round at Golden Ocala Golf and Equestrian Club in Ocala, Florida, for a four-round total of 16-under 272. Choi took home $225,000 for her eighth career LPGA victory, and her first since November 2012."I was extremely
Choi Na-yeon takes LPGA opener

Feb 1, 2015

Lydia Ko earns No. 1 spot at 17
S. Korean Choi Na-yeon wins 2015 LPGA Tour season opener

Feb 1, 2015

South Korea's Choi Na-yeon captured the 2015 LPGA Tour season opener in Florida on Saturday.Choi won the inaugural Coates Golf Championship by one stroke over three golfers, including fellow South Korean Jang Ha-na and the teen prodigy Lydia Ko.Choi shot a four-under 68 in the final round at Golden Ocala Golf and Equestrian Club in Ocala, Florida, for a four-round total of 16-under 272. Choi took home $225,000 for her eighth career LPGA victory, and her first since November 2012.Despite settling
Jang surges into lead at opener

Jan 30, 2015

OCALA, Florida (AP) ― Jang Ha-na went from qualifier to leader in just a few days at the LPGA season opener.And it surprised no one.The 22-year-old South Korean, ranked 21st in the world, shot a 7-under 65 in the second round of the Coates Golf Championship on Thursday and opened up a four-shot lead over Stacy Lewis heading into the third round.Jang has full status on the LPGA Tour. But because the opener isn’t a full-field event, she had to qualify last Saturday. Her extra time at Golden Golf &
Bae files suit to hold off military conscription

Jan 29, 2015

Facing conscription after being denied an extension on his overseas stay, PGA Tour golfer Bae Sang-moon has taken legal action to hold off military service, sources close to the South Korean said Thursday.The sources said the two-time PGA Tour winner filed an administrative suit Jan. 16 through his legal representatives, after the Military Manpower Administration refused to extend his overseas travel permit in December.Bae’s permit expired at the end of last year, and he had to return home withi
Korda, Lewis, Munoz tied for lead at LPGA opener

Jan 29, 2015

Korea’s Park In-bee plays a shot on the 18th hole on Wednesday. (AFP-Yonhap)OCALA, Florida (AP) ― Jessica Korda pulled a hand warmer out of each jacket pocket, showing just how cold she was during the opening round of the LPGA opener.Her scoreboard told a much different story.The 21-year-old American shot a 6-under 66 in the opening round of the Coates Golf Championship on Wednesday and was in a three-way tie with fellow American Stacy Lewis and Azahara Munoz of Spain. All three teed off in wind
PGA Tour's Bae Sang-moon files suit to hold off military conscription

Jan 29, 2015

Facing conscription after being denied an extension on his overseas stay, PGA Tour golfer Bae Sang-moon has taken legal action to hold off military service, sources close to the South Korean said Thursday.The sources said the two-time PGA Tour winner filed an administrative suit Jan. 16 through his legal representatives, after the Military Manpower Administration (MMA) refused to extend his overseas travel permit in December.Bae's permit expired at the end of last year, and he had to return home
Wie set for LPGA Tour opener

Jan 28, 2015

OCALA, Florida (AP) ― Well-rested and healthy, Michelle Wie is ready to get back to work.“I’m very excited for this year,” said Wie, set to begin play Wednesday in the LPGA Tour’s season-opening Coates Golf Championship. “No major swing changes. Just working on building upon last year. I want to just keep the momentum going, just keep building.“My goal for this year is the same. I want to be consistent, but at the same time I want to get a little bit better each and every day.” The 25-year-old W
LPGA opens with top field

Jan 27, 2015

OCALA, Florida (AFP) ― Top-ranked Park In-bee of South Korea and second-ranked New Zealand teen Lydia Ko will try to follow stellar 2014 campaigns with hot 2015 starts when the LPGA season begins Wednesday.The inaugural $1.5 million Coates Championship in suburban Orlando, Florida, marks the opening of a 33-event global calendar offering $61.6 million in prize money.The opening tournament features a field of 120 with a Wednesday to Saturday schedule to avoid a final-day conflict with American fo
Bill Haas pulls away to win Humana Challenge

Jan 26, 2015

LA QUINTA, California (AP) ― Bill Haas pulled ahead with a 20-foot birdie putt on the par-4 16th and parred the final two holes for a one-stroke victory Sunday in the Humana Challenge.Haas closed with a 5-under 67 for his sixth PGA Tour title and first since the 2013 AT&T National. He won the 2010 event at PGA West for his first tour victory.Haas was making his first start since November. He took the long break to rest his left wrist, fractured in April when he fell down stairs at Hilton Head.Pa
Jimmy Walker wins Sony Open

Jan 19, 2015

HONOLULU (AP) ― At least Jimmy Walker is leaving Hawaii with one trophy.Six days after losing a tournament on Maui he felt he should have won, Walker turned in a command performance Sunday on Oahu. He blew away the field with a 7-under 63 to win the Sony Open for the second straight year.His fourth career victory was the most impressive of all. On a course that lends itself to a free-for-all, Walker shot 62-63 on the weekend and set a tournament record with a nine-shot victory. The previous reco
Casey, Simpson tied for lead at Sony Open

Jan 16, 2015

HONOLULU (AP) ― Webb Simpson made his debut with a conventional putter Thursday at the Sony Open and might have wished he had used one sooner.One year away from the new rule that outlaws anchored strokes, Simpson ditched his belly putter for a regular one for his 2015 debut and ran off eight birdies over his last 10 holes for an 8-under 62 that gave him a share of the early lead with Paul Casey.On a day that made the 144 players feel they were in paradise, Simpson and Casey led a morning of low