Sports Briefs

GOLF

In-bee hopes to return to the course after thumb heals

Korean golfer Park In-bee, who is in a rehab at the moment due to a thumb injury, says she would like to return to golf early next season.

During her interview with the LPGA, Park, a Hall of Famer and winner of Olympic gold during the 2016 Rio Summer Games, when golf returned as an official medal event after a century, said, “my main goal before next season is to get into peak condition to play the 2017 season. Currently, my thumb injury has shown positive improvement.”

Park, who is currently ranked No. 9 in the world according to the Rolex Rankings, has not seen much success in the LPGA this year, with nagging injuries forcing her to withdraw or miss events. After her trip to Rio, Park has been wearing a cast on her thumb and has not been playing golf since.

“I don’t think it [the Olympics] affected the injury significantly, but the six weeks practice beforehand didn’t help, either,” Park explained. “Still, the progress is very positive.

“I totally miss being out on the golf course with my fellow players. I want to come back ASAP but I’m being extra careful with the injury. I hope to come back in good condition early next year.”

Park, the host of the ING Life Champions Trophy Invited by Inbee Park, will be on the course late this month in Busan, but in terms of the U.S.-based tour, Park won’t be around until next year.

She plans to take part in the Honda Thailand LPGA next February.

By Choi Hyung-jo

TENNIS

Nadal’s wrist is better and he’s ready to hit the court

Rafael Nadal will return from a wrist injury to play an exhibition in late December in United Arab Emirates.

The 14-time Grand Slam champion said Monday on his Facebook page he will compete in the six-player, $250,000 Mubadala World Tennis Championship.

The event is not connected to the ATP Tour and will be held in Abu Dhabi from Dec. 29-31.

Top-ranked Andy Murray is also scheduled to play, as is fourth-ranked Milos Raonic. Nadal beat Raonic in the previous final.

Last month, Nadal said he was cutting short his 2016 season to fully recover from an injured left wrist that sidelined him for more than two months this season.

AP