By Kim Jae-won
Staff Reporter
All eyes were on young Korean golfer Ji Eun-hee as she lined up her final putt in the fourth round of the U.S. Women's Open last month. The little lady confidently drained a 20-foot putt to win the major, and raised her arms triumphantly, signaling the birth of a new golf star.
Back in Korea, Ji looked tired from her long trip home from England after the British Women's Open, but the 23-year-old lit up when talking about golf.
``I am so glad that I won the U.S. Open title. Wow, it was great. Everything has changed. I was even listed as the player of the week on ESPN,'' Ji said with big smile in an interview with The Korea Times in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province, last week.
``When I came back to Korea, there were so many people to welcome me even though it was very early in the morning. I was surprised to see that.''
The Gapyeong-native is beginning to realize that she has become a big star on the ladies tour. Ji debuted in the KLPGA in 2005, but never won a tournament. She was the runner-up six times in 2007, and was dubbed ``always runner up'' ― a nickname she did not enjoy one bit. One of the biggest reasons Ji never took home a winner's trophy was compatriot Shin Ji-yai, who was dominating the tour.
``Well, I was OK because I did my best at the time. But I did not like when people said to me `Eun-hee is always runner-up.' ''
Ji crossed the Pacific Ocean to play in the LPGA in 2007. She established herself by winning the Wegmans LPGA last year, but was overshadowed again by Shin, who won three trophies that season.
``We say hello when we meet together, but we are not quite close friends. She is two years younger than me,'' Ji said of her relationship with Shin. ``I have a good relationship with Choi Na-yeon.''
With her win at the U.S. Open, she has quite successfully rid herself of that annoying nickname.
``I am so honored to win the U.S. Open. You know, it is the biggest tournament in the LPGA. It is even hard to be invited to the event,'' Ji said.
``The last putt was a hard one. It was about five meters away, and the green was not flat. I thought, `just do it, if I miss, then I can try again in the playoff.' ''
Ji sunk the putt, and with it earned about $585,000 (716 million won) in prize money.
``My parents are in charge of the money, and dad promised to buy me a car.'' It will be Ji's first car, and after earning her first big pay day, she's hoping to get something nice. ``I want to buy a sports car.''
Ji's mother, Byun Gwang-il, explained that the money is great, but the realization of years of hard work and sacrifice is the real reward.
``People envy me saying, 'wow she's got so much money.' But for me it is more important that she won the U.S. Open, which is the best championship in women's golf. I feel my life has been rewarded.
``We did everything we could for her. I even didn't take care as much for Eun-hee's siblings as I should have because of her tournament schedule. I am sorry to them about that.''
Ji was hoping to make it two consecutive major titles at the British Open, but ended up missing the cut.
``Well, I did not say this to anyone, but there were some problems with my caddie,'' said Ji, who declined to elaborate. However, Byun said it was because her caddie, Hawaiian Zac Austin, did not calculate distance well. Ji fired Austin after the British Open.
Ji is hoping to rebound from her early exit at the British Open at the KLPGA High 1 Resort Cup this weekend, and hopes to get back on track for her overall goal for this season.
``I want to become the money leader of this season. That's my goal at the present time.''
Ji is currently ranked 7th with $862,891 (1 billion won). Cristie Kerr leads the list with $1,309,202 (1.6 billion won), followed by Shin with $1,177,607 (1.4 billion won), and Kim In-kyung with $1,062,286 (1.3 billion won).
Ji referred to Annika Sorenstom as her role model. ``She is great. No other golfer is like her. I can feel her charisma when I see her," she said.
``I want to be a humble golfer even if I become so famous and successful. I want to be kind and good to everybody.''