Golfer Park In-bee looking to defend Olympic gold

Park In-bee participates in a practice round of the women's golf tournament at Kasumigaseki Country Club in Kawagoe, Japan, Tuesday. Yonhap

By Kwak Yeon-soo

Golfer Park In-bee, the gold medalist at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and LPGA Hall of Famer, is looking to retain her title at the Tokyo Olympics.

Unlike the men's event, where none of the Rio medalists qualified, the entire 2016 women's podium ― Park, New Zealand's Lydia Ko and China's Feng Shanshan ― are aiming for another shot at glory in Japan.

A total of 60 golfers, which includes all the current top 10 in the world rankings, will be competing in a stroke-play, four-round, no-cut event starting Wednesday on the East Course of the Kasumigaseki Country Club in Saitama, northwest of Tokyo.

Team Korea consists of world No. 3 Park and No. 4 Kim Sei-young, who are second-time Olympic participants, as well as world No. 2 Ko Jin-young and No. 6 Kim Hyo-joo, who are making their Olympic debut.

Apart from the quartet, the field will show off high-profile golfers, including world No.1 Nelly Korda from the United States, who won her first major at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship in June, U.S. Women's Open champion Yuka Saso from the Philippines and Minjee Lee from Australia, who recently won her first major championship at the 2021 Amundi Evian Championship.

Golfers Park In-bee, left, and Ko Jin-young pose after the press conference at Kasumigaseki Country Club in Kawagoe, Japan, Monday. Yonhap

Park said she feels more relaxed as she chases a second gold ― in 2016, she was under a lot of pressure due to a lingering thumb injury.

“I'm very excited to be here and obviously representing the country twice in a row is the biggest honor for me. Here in Tokyo, five years after Rio, it is truly a dream come true for me. If I could raise our flag to the highest point, that will be an even a better experience. Hopefully the experience I had in Rio will help me get through this week,” Park said.

The 33-year-old Park added the weather could take more getting used to than the course ― heavy rain and thunder interrupted the men's golf event last week. According to the weather forecast, heavy rain lightning and gusty winds are expected Friday and Saturday, the third and fourth round the of the women's competition.

“The course was actually a lot firmer than I thought and a lot longer. We are concentrating on getting used to the hot weather and humid conditions,” Park said.

Ko, an eight-time LPGA Tour winner, said she is thrilled to represent her country in the Olympics.

“This week is like my dream. The Olympics certainly weigh on me, but I hope the four of us get good results in the competition,” she said.

Park will tee off at 8:41 a.m., paired with Lydia Ko and Feng, while Ko Jin-young is grouped with Korda and world No.11 Nasa Hataoka of Japan to begin the competition at 8:14 a.m.

“I very much wish our players will win gold, silver and bronze, but safety is the most important thing. Regardless of the color of the medal, I hope our players finish their games well,” said Pak Se-ri, head coach of the women's national team.