By Yoon Chul
The U.S. Women’s Open is played on the toughest courses on the LPGA Tour — that is the most difficult man-made ones. The British Open is called the toughest course built by nature.
But Korean youngster Ryu So-yeon’s win Monday at the major highlighted Korean women’s exceptional run at the U.S. Open, with compatriot Seo Hee-kyung finishing second.
Since Hall of Famer Pak Se-ri became the first Korean to win the tournament in 1998, Korean golfers have claimed four further titles.
The setting for the U.S. Women’s Open normally sees long holes with deep rough and fast greens. While Koreans have improved on their distance, it was a traditional weakness in the LPGA.
The 2011 U.S. Women’s Open on the Broadmoor’s East Course, Colorado Springs, was again challenging, playing over 7,000 yards. In previous LPGA Tour events this year, most of the courses were less than 6,600 yards with just two over 6,700 yards.
Ryu’s average driving distance for the tournament was 270.13 yards and Seo 254.75, ranking them 18th and 54th among the 71 competing golfers.
Koreans make up for their lack of distance through accuracy.
The fairways of the KLPGA Tour courses are narrow, which may have helped the Korean golfers survive the dangers at The Broadmoor.
But the true strength of Koreans may well be their toughness and concentration.
When Pak won the U.S. Women’s Open, she left an indelible image when she took her shoes and socks off to make a great shot from the water hazard on the 20th playoff hole. It showed her boldness and calmness, which she nurtured through tough physical training under her father. Her father also made her practice her swing at cemeteries to build up her mental capabilities.
Pak broke down a wall of inferiority Korean golfers perceived and boosted others.
In this tournament the two Koreans’ concentration shone through.
Due to heavy rain play was suspended over and over again.
To make matters worse, the players had to play both the third and final rounds on the last day.
But Seo and Ryu were both splendid over the last two rounds.
Among the 71 participating golfers, only five had under-par rounds and Ryu and Seo were the lone players to break par, in the third and fourth round, respectively.
“Technically the difference between professional golfers is not big,” Korea Times golf columnist Kim Jeong-kyoo said.
“Concentration accounts for more than 95 percent of professional golfers’ performances. We could confirm Ryu’s concentration in her interview after the tournament.”
Ryu said that she believed in herself and knew that she was good at putting.
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