Park In-bee looks to repeat 2021 success at JTBC Classic

Golf

Published: 23 Mar. 2022, 15:24

Park In-bee looks to repeat 2021 success at JTBC Classic

Park In-bee plays a shot from the 11th tee during her first round at the Women's World Championship at Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore on Thursday. [AP/YONHAP]

The LPGA Tour returns to the West Coast this week after a week-long hiatus, as Hall of Famer Park In-bee looks to defend her 2021 title at the JTBC Classic at Aviara Golf Club in Carlsbad, California.

The Tour returns stateside after a two-week Asia swing that saw world No. 1 Ko Jin-young win her first title of the season at the HSBC Women's World Championship in Singapore and Amy Yang finish tied for fourth at the Honda LPGA Thailand.

The West Coast swing will continue next week in Palm Springs for the year's first major, the Chevron Championship, followed by events in Hawaii and two consecutive tournaments in Los Angeles.

This is the 12th edition of the JTBC Classic, sponsored by Korea JoongAng Daily affiliate JTBC, and is one of the strongest fields yet this season, including all five winners — Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions winner Danielle Kang, Ko Jin-young, Gainbridge LPGA winner Lydia Ko, LPGA Drive On Championship winner Leona Maguire and Honda LPGA Thailand winner Nanna Koerstz Madsen.

Defending champion Park, who has yet to win this season, will be looking to repeat her past success at the Aviara Golf Club.

Last year, Park won her 21st career title after capturing a five-stroke win to match the largest margin of victory in her storied career. It was also her first wire-to-wire without ties. She finished at 14-under-par overall to take home a 2021 Kia Sorento in addition to the trophy, the first car that Park has ever won from a tournament.

"Obviously with the good memories of last year I'm really happy to be here," said Park on Tuesday at the pre-tournament press conference.

"I played nine holes yesterday, and really reminded me of last year and how I played and how tough the greens were. So, yeah, really happy to be back here."

The JTBC Classic presented by Barbasol debuted in 2010 at the La Costa Resort & Spa. In 2011 the event moved north to Pacific Palms Resort & Spa, then back to La Costa in 2012. The tournament was then moved to Aviara Golf Club in 2013 and has been hosted there every year since.

Park is a strong player on this specific golf course, as in addition to her win in 2021, she has finished in the top 10 at the JTBC Classic five times in 11 starts, including three solo second-place finishes in 2010, 2016 and 2019.

Park In-bee lines up a putt on the first green during her final round at the Women's World Championship golf tournament at Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore on Sunday. [AP/YONHAP]

Park will be looking hard at the greens this week and will be paying close attention to the tricky Poa annua grass on the putting greens that has always proven to be a challenge at the JTBC Classic. However, Park is keeping confident.

"I think this golf course really suits me well," said Park. "It's just the greens that gets a lot of people this week, and that's what I'm trying to minimize my mistakes on the greens."

Even the best of putters will still have to work on that green, and Park is no exception to that rule, grinding over her six footers and focusing on proper speed.

"Greens are very tough and they're poana, so they're not consistent," said Park. "You have to watch your speed really well this week and don't get to frustrated even if you miss shorter putts this week. Think we'll see a lot of that this week."

Park has made the second-highest rate of putts on the LPGA Tour from 10-20 feet since the 2021 LPGA Mediheal Championship. She says that she is sticking to that strategy that has worked for her over the years.

"You can't really take it personally on the greens," said Park. "I remember a couple years when I four-putted on these greens and as hard as it is, I just had to keep saying that it wasn't you who four-putted. It was the greens. It is hard to go like that, but I try to be patient.

"I'm trying to have the right speed, so no matter what distances I'm putting from, I try to have tap-ins. That worked well last year so I think I'm going to stick with that strategy."

Park is one of seven past champions competing this week, along with 2019 champion Nasa Hataoka, 2018 champion Ji Eun-hee, 2017 champion Lee Mi-rim, 2016 champion Lydia Ko, 2015 champion Cristie Kerr and 2014 champion Anna Nordqvist.

Ko Jin-young lifts the trophy during the victory ceremony after winning the HSBC Women's World Championship held at the Tanjong course of Singapore's Sentosa Golf Club on March 6. [XINHUA/YONHAP]

Lim Hee-jeong [KLPGA]

There are a total of 23 Korean golfers on the entry list for the JTBC Classic, with KLPGA star golfer Lim Hee-jeong joining the field as a guest.

Alongside Park In-bee, Ko Ji-young and Lim, An Na-rin, Choi Hye-jin, Choi Na-yeon, Chun In-gee, Hong Yae-eun, Jeon Ji-won, Ji Eun-hee, Kang Hae-ji, Kim A-lim, Kim Hyo-joo, Kim In-kyung, Kim Sei-young, Lee Mi-rim, Lee Jeong-eun5, Lee Jeong-eun6, Park Hee-young, Park Sung-hyun, Jenny Shin and Amy Yang tee off on Thursday.

BY YUN SO-HYANG [yun.sohyang@joongang.co.kr]