The Korea Herald

Just like old times

Hoping to recapture some of their old magic, South Korean PGA Tour veteran Choi Kyung-ju has reunited with his former caddie Andy Prodger for the Open Championship this week in England.In an interview with the Asian Tour Wednesday, Choi said he brought Prodger out of retirement for the season’s third major tournament. The Open Championship will start at Royal Liverpool Golf Club on Thursday.“This week, Andy has come back to be on my bag. He lives in Scotland, so it made sense to have him with me

July 16, 2014

Martin captures Women’s Brit Open

SOUTHPORT, England (AP) ― Mo Martin knew she hit her 3-wood exactly how she wanted on the 18th hole at Royal Birkdale.With the ball slightly below her feet, just under 240 yards away and a strong wind at her back, she let it rip and watched the ball track toward the flag. Martin thought it was short. Then she thought it might be too long. Moments later, she realized just how good it was.“I could hear it hit the pin from the fairway,” Martin said. “That was a pretty fun feeling.”The ball rolled i

July 14, 2014

Park takes 1-shot lead at Royal Birkdale

SOUTHPORT, England (AP) ― One year later, Park In-bee is still chasing history at the Women’s British Open.Instead of trying to win an unprecedented fourth straight major, Park has a chance to become only the seventh woman to win four of the LPGA’s majors. Instead of photographers capturing her every move at St. Andrews, the 26-year-old South Korean has gone about her work without fanfare at Royal Birkdale.That changed Saturday with a remarkable start, and a late ruling that put Park in the lead

July 13, 2014

Three-way tie for lead in John Deere Classic

Zach Johnson tees off on the second hole during the first round of the John Deere Classic at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois, Thursday. (AFP-Yonhap)SILVIS, Illinois (AP) ― Zach Johnson, Rory Sabbatini and Brian Harman shot 8-under-par 63s Thursday to share the lead after the first round of the John Deere Classic.Johnson and Sabbatini played bogey-free golf, while Harman had nine birdies and one bogey on the par-71 TPC Deere Run. They led 2004 British Open champion Todd Hamilton, Australian Ste

July 11, 2014

Three-way tie for lead in John Deere Classic

McIlroy takes lead at Scottish Open

ABERDEEN, Scotland (AP) ―Rory McIlroy rolled in six birdies in seven holes around the turn and shot a 7-under 64 for a one-stroke lead midway through a low-scoring first round of the Scottish Open on Thursday.Refreshed after a two-week break, the No. 8-ranked McIlroy tamed windy conditions in northern Scotland to show his links game is in good shape heading into next week’s British Open at Hoylake.“This time last year, I was trying to get the ball under control, not very confident with anything,

July 11, 2014

Wie goes for encore at Royal Birkdale

SOUTHPORT, England (AP) ― As much as Michelle Wie prefers to look forward, this is one week when it’s tempting to get caught up in the past.That could include her recent tour of New York as the U.S. Women’s Open champion or a decade ago when the teen prodigy from Hawaii got her first taste of links golf along the Lancashire coast of England.Both are relevant memories this week at the Ricoh Women’s British Open.Wie is among the favorites when the LPGA Tour’s third major of the year gets underway

July 10, 2014

Wie and Lewis are friends linked by golf

SOUTHPORT, England (AP) ― The friendly matches in South Florida can involve as many as eight players, with teams decided by drawing names from a hat.Michelle Wie would seem to be a great pick, except for the timing.“We usually play in the morning and then go have lunch,” Stacy Lewis said Tuesday. “And she usually gets very focused on the lunch and kind of doesn’t pay attention to the whole golf side of it. She’ll tell you the same thing.”Wie laughed when told the story Lewis shared. Wie loves he

July 9, 2014

Wie and Lewis are friends linked by golf

Kim wins Ladies European Masters

Korea’s Kim In-kyung looks to take advantage of her momentum heading into the Women’s British Open. (File photo)DENHAM, England (AP) ― South Korea’s Kim In-kyung won the Ladies European Masters on Sunday, closing with a 3-under 68 for a five-stroke victory in the final event before the Women’s British Open.Kim had an 18-under 270 total at Buckinghamshire for her first victory since the LPGA Tour’s 2010 Lorena Ochoa Invitational. She opened with rounds of 68, 63 and 68.“I just had a great time,”

July 7, 2014

Hurley extends lead to 2

Korea’s Yang Yong-eun tees off on the sixth hole at the Greenbrier Classic. ( AFP-Yonhap)WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, West Virginia (AP) ― Billy Hurley III doesn’t plan to lose much rest sitting on a third-round lead for the first time on the PGA Tour.The former U.S. Navy officer shot a 3-under 67 on Saturday to extend his advantage to two strokes over Angel Cabrera entering the final round of the Greenbrier Classic.“I’ve been working for a long time to win on the PGA Tour,” Hurley said. “I figure if

July 6, 2014

Choi headed to Brit Open

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland (AP) ― Choi Kyung-ju, Erik Compton and Brooks Koepka are among 10 players officially added to the field at the British Open.The R&A on Wednesday announced the additions to avoid any confusion going into the final weeks of qualifying at European Tour and PGA Tour events. The players are high enough in the world ranking to secure spots July 17-20 at Royal Liverpool.The other seven added to the field were Kevin Stadler, J.B. Holmes, Charles Howell III, Freddie Jacobson, Chesso

July 3, 2014

Tiger is back but where is he going?

BETHESDA, Maryland (AP) ― Tiger Woods back on the golf course is a big deal.There was never any doubt, except for one sarcastic scribe who was walking toward the first tee at Congressional and noticed a sparse gallery for Woods’ first appearance in three months. “Tiger really packs them in.”This was before realizing a few moments later that Woods was starting his round on No. 10.Fans stood side-by-side down the entire left side of the 221-yard hole and three-deep around the green at 8 a.m. Thurs

July 2, 2014

Park In-bee drops another spot to third

Former world No. 1 Park In-bee has slipped a spot to third in the latest women’s world golf rankings released on Monday.The South Korean star lost her No. 1 ranking to Stacy Lewis of the United States five weeks ago and has now fallen behind Lewis and Lydia Ko of New Zealand, who moved up a notch to her career-high No. 2.Park, who climbed to No. 1 last year on the strength of six victories, including three majors, has claimed only one LPGA title so far in 2014.Lewis has missed the top 10 just tw

June 30, 2014

Lewis wins in Arkansas

Stacy Lewis poses with the winner’s trophy on Sunday. (AFP-Yonhap)ROGERS, Arkansas (AP) ― Stacy Lewis made a 7-foot birdie putt on the final hole Sunday in the NW Arkansas Championship to finally win an official event in her adopted state.The top-ranked Lewis, the Texan who played at the nearby University of Arkansas, earned an unofficial win in the rain-shortened 2007 tournament as an amateur. On Sunday, she closed with a 6-under 65 for a one-stroke victory.Lewis birdied three of her final hole

June 30, 2014

Rose rules at Congressional

Justin Rose celebrates with the winner’s trophy at the Quicken Loans National on Sunday. ( AP-Yonhap)BETHESDA, Maryland (AP) ― Justin Rose got his mistake out of the way one hole early and won the Quicken Loans National in a playoff Sunday over Shawn Stefani.Tied for the lead as he played the 18th hole at Congressional, Rose tried to hit through two trees left of the fairway and overturned the shot. It ran down a bank and into the water, and he had to hole a 15-foot bogey putt just to stay in th

June 30, 2014

Wie leads rain-delayed Arkansas event

Michelle Wie (left) watches Ryu So-yeon play a shot on the third hole at the NW Arkansas Championship on Saturday. (AP-Yonhap)ROGERS, Arkansas (AP) ― Whether it’s because of her improved play or the reason for it, Michelle Wie appears as comfortable on and off the golf course as at any time in her career.Wie continued her season-long surge on the LPGA Tour on Saturday, shooting her second straight 5-under 66 to take a two-shot lead in the suspended second round of the NW Arkansas Championship.Th

June 29, 2014

Tiger Woods pleased with last round before PGA comeback

BETHESDA, United States (AFP) ― Tiger Woods was pleased with his final practice round before returning to competition after a three-month injury layoff, saying Wednesday he is still rusty but his back feels fine.“Generally it feels good,” Woods said. “I hit some loose shots today but I also hit some really good ones. Back feels great which is a really good sign.”Woods played a morning pro-Am round ahead of his Thursday morning start at the $6.5 million U.S. PGA National at Congressional Country

June 26, 2014

Tiger Woods pleased with last round before PGA comeback

Obama hosts Presidents Cup golfers

Korea’s Choi Kyung-ju takes part in an event honoring the Presidents Cup golf teams in Washington, D.C., Tuesday. (AFP-Yonhap)WASHINGTON (AP) ― President Barack Obama and his most famous golf partner, Tiger Woods, got together again Tuesday, but at the White House instead of on the course.Obama honored a team of American golfers who last year defeated an international team to win their fifth straight Presidents Cup, a victory that was clinched by Woods.“Now last year was the second time I’ve bee

June 25, 2014

The maturation of Wie

PINEHURST, North Carolina (AP) ― Michelle Wie put her table-top putting stance to good use in the late hours after she became a U.S. Women’s Open champion.In a photo she posted to Instagram, Wie is bent over so sharply that her back is parallel to the ground. Only instead of a hitting a putt ― like the 25-footer for birdie on the 17th hole at Pinehurst No. 2 that clinched her first major ― her head is buried in the Women’s Open trophy.A text message to Meg Mallon would seem to confirm what she w

June 24, 2014

Wie holds on to win Women’s Open

PINEHURST, North Carolina (AP) ― Michelle Wie finally delivered a performance worthy of the hype that has been heaped on her since she was a teenager.Wie bounced back from a late mistake at Pinehurst No. 2 to bury a 25-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole, sending the 24-year-old from Hawaii to her first major championship Sunday, a two-shot victory over Stacy Lewis in the U.S. Women’s Open.Wie closed with an even-par 70 and covered her mouth with her hand before thrusting both arms in the air.Lewi

June 23, 2014

Michelle Wie wins U.S. Women's Open

Michelle Wie won the US Women's Open on Sunday, firing an even-par final round of 70 at Pinehurst for the first major title of her career.The American, tipped for stardom even before she turned pro at the age of15 in 2005, finished with a two-under total of 278, two strokes in front of world number one Stacy Lewis, who kept the pressure on with a final-round 66 for 280.(AFP-Yonhap)"I just had a lot of fun out there," said Wie. "I woke up so excited. I was so grateful for this opportunity."Wie sa

June 23, 2014