Korean domination in women's golf

[jmvargas]

out of curiosity i decided to check on the women's world rankings to find out just how dominant the Koreans are in women's golf..

 

they have 5 in the top 10..11 in the top 25 and 22 in the top 50..

 

if i include those with Korean ancestry it jumps to 27 in the top 50.

 

the USA has 1 in the top 10..6 in the top 25 and 11 in the top 50..

 

Europe has 3 in the top 25 with 13th anna nordquist the highest ranked and 5 in the top 50..

 

a Korea vs the rest of the world matches should be interesting..

 

any thoughts?

[Mick Douglas]

Major thought is it's by no means surprising but do they play a major in Korea? if not why not.

[pmcuk]

For me it's not really about domination, though clearly that comes into it. For me the thing that stands out among the Koreans is attitude, personality and above all the sheer beauty of their swings and overall game. They are just so damn addictive to watch. Some of the swings are so nearly perfect that it's almost like watching contemporary dance. I just don't get that feeling that you're close to perfection with the Americans and Europeans. I mean, I could watch Sandra Gal until the end of time - her elegance and physique just moves me in indescribable ways. But not really her golf. And I like some of the other personalities too, I enjoy watching golfers like Lexi, Brooke, Carlota, Nelly, even Brittany Lincicome.

 

But like I say, there's just something addictive about watching the Koreans play golf. It's the whole package - skill, elegance, gracious attitude. Amy Yang, Inbee, SHP, Ingee,.... the list goes on and on and on. There's really nothing like it in the rest of world golf. It's just addictive.

[Raving Shanker]

For me it's not really about domination, though clearly that comes into it. For me the thing that stands out among the Koreans is attitude, personality and above all the sheer beauty of their swings and overall game. They are just so damn addictive to watch. Some of the swings are so nearly perfect that it's almost like watching contemporary dance. I just don't get that feeling that you're close to perfection with the Americans and Europeans. I mean, I could watch Sandra Gal until the end of time - her elegance and physique just moves me in indescribable ways. But not really her golf. And I like some of the other personalities too, I enjoy watching golfers like Lexi, Brooke, Carlota, Nelly, even Brittany Lincicome.

 

But like I say, there's just something addictive about watching the Koreans play golf. It's the whole package - skill, elegance, gracious attitude. Amy Yang, Inbee, SHP, Ingee,.... the list goes on and on and on. There's really nothing like it in the rest of world golf. It's just addictive.

They are an incredible group, but no one mentions Sei Young Kim, and the words elegance and perfection in the same breath.

[pmcuk]

 

......But like I say, there's just something addictive about watching the Koreans play golf. It's the whole package - skill, elegance, gracious attitude. Amy Yang, Inbee, SHP, Ingee,.... the list goes on and on and on. There's really nothing like it in the rest of world golf. It's just addictive.

They are an incredible group, but no one mentions Sei Young Kim, and the words elegance and perfection in the same breath.

 

I like SYK's personality - I can't help wondering what it would be like to meet her face to face on a karate floor..... I love Ha Na Yang and miss her. I really like watching Shanshan (well, OK, she's Chinese..). It's not only cool perfection - there are some real personalities there too.

[jmvargas]

they also have 3 in the top 5 in women's olympic archery world rankings--#1, #2,and #4--and have won every Olympic gold medal in women's team competition since 1988..

 

whatever they're doing over there is something all countries should carefully look at if they want to achieve similar successes in these sports..

 

more than half of the countries involved in Olympic archery have Korean coaches including the USA, Australia, and Mexico which have also translated into Olympic medals for these countries already..

 

i believe it has a lot to do with the culture of discipline and national pride--among others-- countries like these have which also includes Japan and China but the Koreans take it to

another level when it comes to women's archery and golf..

[Raving Shanker]

......But like I say, there's just something addictive about watching the Koreans play golf. It's the whole package - skill, elegance, gracious attitude. Amy Yang, Inbee, SHP, Ingee,.... the list goes on and on and on. There's really nothing like it in the rest of world golf. It's just addictive.

They are an incredible group, but no one mentions Sei Young Kim, and the words elegance and perfection in the same breath.

 

I like SYK's personality - I can't help wondering what it would be like to meet her face to face on a karate floor..... I love Ha Na Yang and miss her. I really like watching Shanshan (well, OK, she's Chinese..). It's not only cool perfection - there are some real personalities there too.

I wasn't putting SYK down! I also love her style.

[North Texas]

Well, we haven't discussed how the Koreans are dominating ladies golf in awhile so I guess it was time.

[legitimategolf]

Well, we haven't discussed how the Koreans are dominating ladies golf in awhile so I guess it was time.

It's a current and developing story though. As of yesterday they have won the last five LPGA events, and something like 13 of the 23 events played this year. If American players had done this, it would be the talk of the golf world.

[tbowles411]

Well, we haven't discussed how the Koreans are dominating ladies golf in awhile so I guess it was time.

It's a current and developing story though. As of yesterday they have won the last five LPGA events, and something like 13 of the 23 events played this year. If American players had done this, it would be the talk of the golf world.

This is true. While it's not hurting the women's game, as far as American interest, I'm sure it's not helping it. My thing is, work harder. Maybe they'll have that level of success too.

[legitimategolf]

any thoughts?

At this year's USWO, Cristie Kerr was asked about it. Her explanation was that Americans "are outnumbered." Really sorry to use this term but that is as fake news as it gets: here in the real world not only are there more Americans than Koreans on the LPGA, there's actually almost three times as many.

 

So the "outnumbered" explanation does not hold actual water. I really wonder what she meant. Maybe she actually feels outnumbered out there, and doesn't recognize the legions of no-name Americans as legit LPGA members. Or maybe she is talking about the upper echelon, the group of players who are actual threats to win. In that sense yes, you could say she is outnumbered. In any case it's a pretty defeatist attitude!

 

I have thought a lot about why Koreans are doing so well. All I can really come up with is that Korea is in love with golf. You can see it all the way down to the amateur/recreational level. At least I do, living in an area with a big Korean population. I also see it when I watch LPGA coverage on Korean networks, and I see all the golf commercials that feature young, attractive people. Which is to say over there, golf is marketed to everyone including actual youth and young adults. Compared to American golf advertising which is squarely aimed at shlubby middle-aged males.

[North Texas]

Well, we haven't discussed how the Koreans are dominating ladies golf in awhile so I guess it was time.

It's a current and developing story though. As of yesterday they have won the last five LPGA events, and something like 13 of the 23 events played this year. If American players had done this, it would be the talk of the golf world.

 

Yet, nothing new will be revealed or said. As usual when these threads pop up.

 

And, yes, I will still read them. What can I say, it's Golfwrx :taunt:

[Warrick]

I think their mentality and on-course demeanor have a lot to do with it. They appear to detach themselves from the result, and just move forward with little emotion. Never too high, never too low.

[TobesSC]

Tiger effect... oh I mean Se Ri Pak effect. Professional golf is a way for Korean girls (and sometimes unfortunately their families) to become successful and change their lives in a major way. Outnumbered on tour is not true but I'd bet more young girls are playing golf in Korea in than in the US.

 

In the US golf is somewhat struggling in general and arguably the US women's game is being impacting the most. If Lexi could putt like Kerr and was dominating things may be different.

[pmcuk]

I'm European and I really don't give a damn if Koreans outplay Americans. I have no dog in the fight and I simply don't care. European golf is far too diffuse to get nationalistic about, and we just got hammered in the Solheim Cup, so there's not even a fight to have dog in there.

 

So for me it's just purely the skill and elegance of the Koreans that make them worth watching. Plus they don't - thank goodness - behave like tasteless prima donnas, swearing and cussing when they miss putts, throwing temper tantrums, walking about with sour faces or deliberately holding up play. As long as the Koreans continue to show how golf can be played at the top level in all ways, then they're good for the game. Period.

[ClairefromClare]

Tiger effect... oh I mean Se Ri Pak effect. Professional golf is a way for Korean girls (and sometimes unfortunately their families) to become successful and change their lives in a major way. Outnumbered on tour is not true but I'd bet more young girls are playing golf in Korea in than in the US.

 

In the US golf is somewhat struggling in general and arguably the US women's game is being impacting the most. If Lexi could putt like Kerr and was dominating things may be different.

 

I sometimes wonder how the world would be different if Se Ri Pak had won the Nobel Prize for Physics.

[legitimategolf]

Outnumbered on tour is not true but I'd bet more young girls are playing golf in Korea in than in the US.

 

I would take that bet!

 

USA population: 323 million

South Korean population: 51 million

 

according to R&A:

number of 'golf facilities' in USA: 15,372

number of 'golf facilities' in South Korea: 447

 

As reassuring as it would be to believe that there's more Korean girls than American girls playing golf, the numbers cannot support that. There is just not enough room for that to be possible. Based on the above figures South Korea has one golf facility for every 114,000 people, while here the ratio is one golf facility for every 21,000 people.

 

 

American junior golfers (representing a very wide socioeconomic range) have abundant access to golf. It's not like that (yet) in Korea, not even close.

[legitimategolf]

So for me it's just purely the skill and elegance of the Koreans that make them worth watching. Plus they don't - thank goodness - behave like tasteless prima donnas, swearing and cussing when they miss putts, throwing temper tantrums, walking about with sour faces or deliberately holding up play.

 

...or screaming orders at their ball like crazy women.

[Soloman1]

Professional golf is a way for Korean girls (and sometimes unfortunately their families) to become successful and change their lives in a major way.

 

South Korea is not a 3rd world country. They are no more changing their lives than someone from France or Spain trying to "become successful." Most of the Korean players come from well-to-do families.

[jmvargas]

any thoughts?

At this year's USWO, Cristie Kerr was asked about it. Her explanation was that Americans "are outnumbered." Really sorry to use this term but that is as fake news as it gets: here in the real world not only are there more Americans than Koreans on the LPGA, there's actually almost three times as many.

 

So the "outnumbered" explanation does not hold actual water. I really wonder what she meant. Maybe she actually feels outnumbered out there, and doesn't recognize the legions of no-name Americans as legit LPGA members. Or maybe she is talking about the upper echelon, the group of players who are actual threats to win. In that sense yes, you could say she is outnumbered. In any case it's a pretty defeatist attitude!

 

I have thought a lot about why Koreans are doing so well. All I can really come up with is that Korea is in love with golf. You can see it all the way down to the amateur/recreational level. At least I do, living in an area with a big Korean population. I also see it when I watch LPGA coverage on Korean networks, and I see all the golf commercials that feature young, attractive people. Which is to say over there, golf is marketed to everyone including actual youth and young adults. Compared to American golf advertising which is squarely aimed at shlubby middle-aged males.

 

i'm pretty sure cristie was referring to the upper echelon where they are outnumbered 2 to 1 based on my earlier findings--22 in the top 50 for Korea vs 11 for the USA..

 

and your point about their love and marketing of the game is valid too..

[pmcuk]

So for me it's just purely the skill and elegance of the Koreans that make them worth watching. Plus they don't - thank goodness - behave like tasteless prima donnas, swearing and cussing when they miss putts, throwing temper tantrums, walking about with sour faces or deliberately holding up play.

 

...or screaming orders at their ball like crazy women.

 

Quote from the Golf Channel in the final round of the Canadian.... "You have to say that Cristie Kerr is very professional". So there you have it - that's what professionals do, scream at the ball.

[legitimategolf]

Quote from the Golf Channel in the final round of the Canadian.... "You have to say that Cristie Kerr is very professional". So there you have it - that's what professionals do, scream at the ball.

Let me guess, Judy Rankin said that.

[tbowles411]

So for me it's just purely the skill and elegance of the Koreans that make them worth watching. Plus they don't - thank goodness - behave like tasteless prima donnas, swearing and cussing when they miss putts, throwing temper tantrums, walking about with sour faces or deliberately holding up play.

 

...or screaming orders at their ball like crazy women.

 

Quote from the Golf Channel in the final round of the Canadian.... "You have to say that Cristie Kerr is very professional". So there you have it - that's what professionals do, scream at the ball.

I think it's kind of sexy. :)

[pmcuk]

Quote from the Golf Channel in the final round of the Canadian.... "You have to say that Cristie Kerr is very professional". So there you have it - that's what professionals do, scream at the ball.

Let me guess, Judy Rankin said that.

 

Correct!

[south_side_lefty]

Tiger effect... oh I mean Se Ri Pak effect. Professional golf is a way for Korean girls (and sometimes unfortunately their families) to become successful and change their lives in a major way. Outnumbered on tour is not true but I'd bet more young girls are playing golf in Korea in than in the US.

 

In the US golf is somewhat struggling in general and arguably the US women's game is being impacting the most. If Lexi could putt like Kerr and was dominating things may be different.

 

I sometimes wonder how the world would be different if Se Ri Pak had won the Nobel Prize for Physics.

 

Jenny Chuasiriporn wins the '98 US Open. :)

[DavePelz4]

So for me it's just purely the skill and elegance of the Koreans that make them worth watching. Plus they don't - thank goodness - behave like tasteless prima donnas, swearing and cussing when they miss putts, throwing temper tantrums, walking about with sour faces or deliberately holding up play.

 

...or screaming orders at their ball like crazy women.

 

Quote from the Golf Channel in the final round of the Canadian.... "You have to say that Cristie Kerr is very professional". So there you have it - that's what professionals do, scream at the ball.

I think it's kind of sexy. :)

 

Thought you gave up day drinkin TB...

[ChronicSlicer]

Is it that hard to accept the Koreans are good at golf, have the dedication,motivation to be the best. I`m not saying the US ladies don`t, but It`s not really working out right now.

[DavePelz4]

The US has the Olympic training center but nothing formalized on a national level for male or female golf. Korean has a national program in golf and many other sports. The answer is simply that they work harder than counterparts from most other countries in the world.

[jmvargas]

The US has the Olympic training center but nothing formalized on a national level for male or female golf. Korean has a national program in golf and many other sports. The answer is simply that they work harder than counterparts from most other countries in the world.

 

so true..

 

it's their national sports program which is a key to any country's sports development.

 

if you include the culture of discipline and national pride which some countries possess you usually end up with a winning formula..

 

in my country some national sports associations(NSA's) have good programs and have shown modest success in international events but the poor--nonexistant?--overall program plus the flawed overall sports leadership has led to our decline in the international sports arena.

 

without Manny Pacquiao we would have no international sports heroes at all...and he's getting kinda old..

 

as a 3rd world country we have a long way to go in the Olympics or even Asian games but we should do better in the Regional--SEAGames--where we recently placed a lowly 6th out of 11 when we already had no. 1and no.2 places in the past..

 

...it's frustrating..

[Mellow]

Sports can bring people together, make people meet and see each other that otherwise wouldn't. That just happened at the Solheim in a pretty big way, hopefully mostly good.

 

The LPGA has definitely made me aware of Korea more! Some of the players are just amazing ambassadors, and as a fan have made a big impact on me. I'd never trade that.

 

Golf does make kind of a deal about nationality. It stamps the players' country's flag right next to their name on the leaderboard. So you're constantly reminded of it every few minutes. Even though, in the game itself, it's not directly relevant.

 

I wouldn't like a player just because of what country they're from. And conversely, I would not get worried about any one country having an out-sized share of the top 50, like talk of being "outnumbered". That kind of circle-the-wagons outlook doesn't work long term. It would probably make the LPGA look like the junior tour to the KLPGA, and cost the Asian swing. And from the American view, it's not like Korea is some random country who just walked in off the street. This is a long time ally.

 

I hope any wagon-circlers might be opening up a little by now. These swings and personalities and stories just have to be winning people over.