Newest LPGA major champ remains non-committal about U.S. tour

South Korean golfer Chun In-gee, who became the newest LPGA major champ here Sunday, remained non-committal about playing full-time on the U.S. circuit next season.

Chun captured the U.S. Women's Open at Lancaster Country Club in Pennsylvania, rallying from a four-shot deficit to beat countrywoman Amy Yang by one stroke at eight-under 272.

It was Chun's first LPGA major title and came in her U.S. Women's Open debut. Chun, still a member of the Korean LPGA Tour, has earned full-time playing privileges for the U.S. tour in 2016, but she said after the victory that she wasn't sure if she would commit to the new circuit right away.

"Playing on the LPGA Tour is a dream of mine," she said. "But I will have to talk to my parents and coach about it."

Though she's only 20 years old, Chun already has seven victories on the KLPGA Tour, including three in 2015, and she has also won on the Japanese LPGA Tour this year.

Yet the U.S. Women's Open victory was so monumental that Chun said, even after a couple of hours had passed, the accomplishment still hadn't hit her.

"My mind is completely blank right now," Chun said. "I was just trying to have fun and enjoy myself, and I think it led to the championship."

In Lancaster, Chun teamed up with a new caddie, Dean Herden.

The Australian usually works with another South Korean player, Seo Hee-kyung, but with Seo not in the field for the event, Chun hired Herden for the week.

"I've known him for a while, and he is close with some Korean players and knows how to work with them," Chun said. "I enjoyed working with him starting in the practice rounds. We're leaving with some great memories."

Chun said she will play in the next LPGA major, the Ricoh Women's British Open in Turnberry, Scotland, and will also have Herden on her bag.

"It's exciting just to imagine playing in such a historic place," the golfer added. "I will get to meet new people, and I will try to enjoy myself the way I did here." (Yonhap)