U.S. Women’s Open

My wife and I attended the final round of the U.S Women’s Open in Kohler Wisconsin yesterday.   We originally planned to go on Thursday, however the temperature was 102°F (39°C), and we changed our plans to Sunday and had very comfortable weather.  The course was in beautiful condition and challenged the golfers.  I have played the Blackwolf Run course several times and it always got the best of me.

South Korean golfer Na Yeon Choi won the tournament, after shooting a round of 65 on Saturday and playing well again on Sunday.  For those that haven’t followed women’s golf, the demographics of the game have changed dramatically over the past decade.  Ten years ago Swedish golfer Annika Sorenstam dominated.   Mexican Lorena Ochoa dominated from 2007-2010 and then abruptly retired at the age of 29. 

Today, Asian golfers are dominating.  Taiwanese Yani Tseng is the world’s number one and possibly the best golfer of all time.   By the numbers there are more South Koreans than any other Asian nationality.   At the U.S. Open, and by my count, 30 of the 65 golfers still playing on Sunday were of Asian descent.  Another 38 Asian golfers failed to make the cut on Friday.  The top five golfers included three South Koreans and a Chinese woman.  This has become a common tournament finish.

We enjoyed the day very much.  We started the day by sitting at the 9^th hole and watched some of the early tee time pairings playing up to the green.  My wife was able to engage Yani Tseng in a brief conversation in Chinese.   Later we moved to the 5^th hole to watch the top ten pairings play, before moving to the 6^th hole and then the 8^th.  We watch winner Choi play three different holes.

In 1998 the U.S. Open was also played at Blackwolf Run.  South Korean Se Ri Pak beat Thai/American Jenny Chuasiriporn in a 20 hole playoff and became a national hero in Korea.  She inspired many young girls to begin golfing in Korea and much of Asia.  The golf craze in Asia began in large part because of Pak’s victory in Wisconsin 14 years ago.

I had taken my late wife to the 1998 Open and witnessed Pak’s emerging greatness.  We watched Pak play the 6^th hole from an unused tee box.  I told my wife to protect our precious spectator territory, and I demonstrated by setting my feet in a wide stance.  Another spectator tried to move close to the action by infringing on our space.  I leaned my shoulder into his, pushing him back.  He was persistent and pushed his way back to the front.  After several minutes of poor behavior by both of us, I noticed this Asian man had the same sponsor names on his shirt as one of the golfers, and in fact their shirts matched.  I realized this was Se Ri Pak’s father trying to get a view of his young daughter playing in the most important tournament of her life.  I pointed to his daughter and gave the man a thumb’s up gesture.  He smiled at me and then watched Se Ri sink a put to remain in a tie.  At that point in time, I realized how much the Asians loved golf.

Se Ri Pak and other Koreans showered Choi with Champaign at the 18^th hole after she won.  Choi was able to achieve greatness on the same course as her childhood hero, and with her hero watching.  My wife is a great sports enthusiast and now has a good appreciation for golf.  I would guess she might even try playing the game at some point.