INCHEON (Yonhap) ― With a major international golf competition set to take place in South Korea in less than a year, principal figures of the event said Wednesday they’re already anticipating a big showdown.The 2015 Presidents Cup will come to Incheon, west of Seoul, from Oct. 8 to 11 next year. It is a biennial event that pits a team of Americans against a squad of non-European international players in match play for four days.Jack Nicklaus Golf Club in Incheon will be the host.The Presidents w

Nov. 5, 2014

Lee Hyung-joon, a 22-year-old rookie, won the second Herald-KYJ Tour Championship. It was his first victory on the KPGA Korean Tour. He took first place with a 6-under 210 in the 300 million won ($279,000) tournament at Lotte Skyhill Country Club on the southern island of Jejudo on Monday. Hong Soon-sang, a 33-year-old Seoul native, took second with three shots behind Lee. Defending champion Hur In-hoi, 27, from Gyeonggi Province, placed third with 1-under 215. “I bogeyed two of the four holes I

Nov. 3, 2014

TAIPEI (AP) ― Park In-bee won the LPGA Taiwan Championship on Sunday for her third victory of the year and 12th career title, holding off Stacy Lewis by two strokes at Miramar.Six days after regaining the No. 1 spot in the world from Lewis, the South Korean newlywed closed with a 1-under 71 in light rain to finish at 22-under 266.Korea’s Park In-bee plays a shot at the LPGA Taiwan Championship on Sunday. (AFP-Yonhap)Park opened with rounds of 64, 62 and 69 to take a four-stroke lead over Lewis a

Nov. 2, 2014

The Herald-KYJ Tour Championship golf tournament will take place at the Lotte Skyhill Jeju Country Club on Jejudo Island from Oct. 30 to Nov. 2. The event is organized by the Korea Professional Golfers’ Association, cosponsored by golf wear company KYJ and The Herald Business, and aired by golf cable channel J Golf. The tournament was launched last year to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Herald Corp. About 100 players will compete for the championship title and $60,000, with total prize mone

Oct. 29, 2014

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Georgia (AP) ― Erik Compton is happy with where he is in golf, and he’s not referring to his 5-under 65 on Thursday for a share of the lead in the McGladrey Classic.A return to Sea Island provides an occasion to take stock of how far he has come in the last 13 years, and what Compton refers to as the “hurdles” he didn’t anticipate.There’s a medical term for these hurdles. It’s called a second heart transplant.“I’m almost 35 years old. I’ve had a good career in golf, really,” h

Oct. 24, 2014

INCHEON (Yonhap) ― South Korean teen golfer Baek Kyu-jung, who became the latest winner on the LPGA Tour on Sunday at home, said she draws inspiration from a close friend who has always been a step ahead of her in their burgeoning careers.Baek, 19, captured the LPGA KEB-HanaBank Championship in Incheon in a sudden death playoff over Brittany Lincicome of the United States and fellow South Korean Chun In-gee for her maiden LPGA title in her first appearance on the tour.Korean teen golfer Baek Kyu

Oct. 20, 2014

INCHEON (Yonhap) ― South Korean Baek Kyu-jung claimed the LPGA KEB-HanaBank Championship in a playoff on Sunday for her maiden LPGA victory in her first appearance on the tour.The 19-year-old defeated compatriot Chun In-gee and American Brittany Lincicome with a birdie on the first sudden death playoff hole on the par-72, 6,364-yard Ocean Course at Sky72 Golf and Resort here in Incheon, west of Seoul.Baek, a member of the Korean LPGA Tour, took home $300,000 in the winner’s purse.Baek is the eig

Oct. 19, 2014

INCHEON (Yonhap) ― Karine Icher claimed the second round lead at the LPGA KEB-HanaBank Championship with a 4-under 68 on Friday.Icher had five birdies against one bogey to move to 5-under for the tournament on the par-72, 6,364-yard Ocean Course at the Sky72 Golf and Resort club in Incheon. The $2 million event is the only LPGA Tour stop in South Korea each year.The Frenchwoman started the day at 1-under, tied for 15th, but picked up her first birdie on the opening hole. She then closed the roun

Oct. 17, 2014

INCHEON (Yonhap) ― A surprising name shot to the top of the leaderboard after the opening round at the LPGA KEB-HanaBank Championship here in Incheon on a gusty Thursday.South Korea’s Kang Hae-ji battled strong winds all day to mix in six birdies with a bogey for a 67 on the par-72, 6,364-yard Ocean Course at the Sky72 Golf and Resort, adjacent to Incheon International Airport.Kang, who made her LPGA debut in 2009, is seeking her first victory.Lurking behind the leader is the defending champ Amy

Oct. 16, 2014

INCHEON (Yonhap) ― Michelle Wie, the American LPGA Tour star of South Korean descent, has had an up-and-down season in 2014. Up: Wie has had two victories, including her first career major at the U.S. Women’s Open. Down: Wie has missed most of the past three months with a finger injury.As she gears up for a return to action in the land of her parents’ birth this week, Wie, who claims to be pain-free now, said her extended layoff may have been a blessing in disguise.“It was frustrating not to be

Oct. 15, 2014

 INCHEON (Yonhap) ― Even as she’s breathing down the neck of the world’s best golfers, LPGA Tour phenom Lydia Ko, currently ranked No. 3, said Tuesday she isn’t thinking about taking over the top spot yet.The 17-year-old New Zealander is in the land of her birth this week for the $2 million LPGA KEB-HanaBank Championship, the only LPGA Tour stop in South Korea each year. It will be Ko’s first appearance at a tournament held in South Korea.“I think it’s going to be an awesome week, and I can’t wa

Oct. 14, 2014

NAPA, California (AP) ― Bae Sang-moon built a big lead and was steady enough on the back nine at Silverado to win the Frys.com Open on Sunday in the first event of the new PGA Tour season.Bae missed a short birdie putt on the 18th that only affected the margin. He closed with a 1-over 73, the first player on the PGA Tour since Ben Crane at the St. Jude Classic in June to win with a final round over par.He won by two shots over Steven Bowditch, who closed with a 67 on a dry, hot day in the Napa V

Oct. 13, 2014