Chun In-gee returns to site of maiden LPGA major this week

When the U.S. Women’s Open tees off Thursday in Pennsylvania, Korean LPGA star Chun In-gee will make her return to the site of her maiden major title.The 79th edition of the oldest major in women’s golf will take place at Lancaster Country Club in the city of Lancaster. The course last hosted the U.S. Women’s Open in 2015, when Chun, not yet an LPGA member then, held off countrywoman Amy Yang by one shot for her first LPGA major and also her first LPGA win.Chun is the most recent major champion from Korea, having claimed the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in 2022.The U.S. Women’s Open has produced 10 Korean champions, with Kim A-lim in 2020 being the most recent winner. This week, 20 South Koreans will be in the field of 156.The U.S. Women’s Open will be the 13th event of the 2024 season, and no Korean has found the winner’s circle so far. It’s the longest title drought for South Korean players on the LPGA Tour since 2014, when Park In-bee won the season’s 14th tournament.

Chun has been an active member of the Lancaster community since her breakthrough win, which she credited with helping her realize her dream of playing on the LPGA Tour full-time. She founded In Gee Chun Lancaster Country Club Educational Foundation in 2019 and has awarded over US$470,000 in scholarships. She was named the inaugural winner of the LPGA Tour’s Velocity Global Impact Award last year for her effort to grow the game and inspire the next generation of athletes.Chun is coming off her best performance of the season last week at the Mizuho Americas Open, where she tied for 14th.Other Korean major champions in this week’s field include Ko Jin-young, Kim Hyo-joo, Shin Ji-yai and Lee Jeong-eun.Ko is the top Korean player in the world rankings at No. 7, but she has only played in six tournaments this season due to injuries. She has recorded two top-10 finishes so far.The domestic KLPGA Tour will be represented by Kim Min-byeol, 안전 Kim Su-ji and Park Hyun-kyung.