Interesting assessment by CBS Sports senior writer Steve Elling about Korean born golfers and American golfers.  If you know want to know the secret, it’s the kimchi they feed the girls across the pond.  lol

Guess this isn’t exactly news
Want to win the biggest title in women’s golf? Move to Seoul. A common thread has clearly emerged over the past five years, a period that has produced three South Korean winners with minimal professional pedigrees. Unheralded Birdie Kim, Inbee Park and Eun Hee Ji have amassed a combined total of four LPGA-sanctioned victories in their careers, a staggering statistic given the supposed pressures of delivering an Open title. Kim and Park, in fact, hadn’t won before claiming their Open titles, nor have they since. So whatever they are doing on the Korean assembly line is working. As for the Americans, read onward.

LPGA-USGA Girls Golf Day 2009 presented by Inbee Park is taking place at LPGA-USGA Girls Golf (Girls Golf) sites around the country May 1 through October 31. To date, nearly 70 sites nationwide have signed up to host events, with 3,000 girls estimated to attend.

Since its inaugural year in 1999, LPGA-USGA Girls Golf Day has been an annual event devoted to making golf accessible to girls and furthering their interest in the game. The presenting sponsor of the 2009 event, Inbee Park, made a generous donation to The LPGA Foundation following her win at the 2008 U.S. Women’s Open, which has benefited the LPGA-USGA Girls Golf program. LPGA-USGA Girls Golf Day presented by Inbee Park is a chance for Girls Golf sites to showcase their program to parents, sponsors and the community. Girls Golf participants are also encouraged to bring a friend to the event.

Why can’t we all get along?  The LA Times points out the growing tensions on the LPGA tour as more and more woman of Korean descent are competing on the tour.  This may simply be one of those growing pains that professional sports undergo and the LPGA is not immune.  For example, there was a fuss about the growing number of latin born players who now play in Major League Baseball.  I believe in diversity but I also recognize the importance of the commercial viability of the LPGA.  All of the Korean players must makes a concerted effort to speak English and engage with sponsors and advertisers because those nice checks they pick up will diminish if they don’t make real efforts.

The LA Times article does provide some snapshots into  some of the Korean players on the LPGA tour:  Inbee Park, Christina Kim, Angela Park, Jiyai Shin, Seon Hwa Lee, Jane Park  Read more…