Father's advice and guidance helped shape Ji
Ji Eun-hee of South Korea reacts yesterday after making a birdie putt on the final hole to win the U.S. Women39s Open golf championship at the Saucon Valley Country Club in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. [REUTERS]
With the win, Ji became the seventh Korean female golfer to capture a major championship on the LPGA Tour since Pak Se-ri did it first 11 years ago.
Ji, who made her professional debut in 2005 and has two KLPGA wins, two LPGA wins and two Asian Tour wins under her belt, was dressed in her trademark black on the final day of competition.
"I'm not superstitious, nor do I have a jinx when it comes to what I wear," Ji told Yonhap after the match. "I feel comfortable in black, and I think the color gives off a strong impression to my opponents."
Ji won the U.S Open the hard way, after struggling up to the 10th hole on the final day of competition. Part of the reason for her turnaround was her strong conditioning.
Another reason? Her father, Ji Young-gi, a former national water ski team coach and the driving force behind the young golfer's development. The younger Ji took up the sport when she was in sixth grade at the urging of her father, who drilled into her the importance of hard work and basic conditioning. She often followed her father to the Korea National Training Center in northern Seoul, where the country s top athletes train, and learned the basics of strength and conditioning. It's part of the reason that, despite her small stature of 163 centimeters (5 feet 3 inches) and 55 kilograms (121 pounds), Ji possesses a strong and accurate shot that can reach up to 260 yards.
The elder Ji provided his daughter with advice as her caddie during her amateur career but also set up floating targets in the Bukhan River in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi, preaching the importance of accuracy.
"I run a driving range these days and don't have to worry about such things anymore, but at the time I ran a water leisure center and supported my daughter," her father said in an interview with Yonhap. "Some of the balls would float to the surface of the water and I would retrieve them."
Ji, who had been overshadowed by other talented Korean female golfers, won the Wegmans LPGA event in June 2008.
I have achieved my goal of winning in the LPGA tour," Ji said at the time. "My next challenge will be a major championship on the tour."
After finishing 42nd at the U.S. Open last season, Ji achieved that goal merely a year after winning her first title. Ji will come back to Korea today before returning to the United States to compete in the Evian Masters.
By Jason Kim [jason@joongang.co.kr]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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