Inbee Park "Conquering the milestone of 20 career wins~"..."Olympic ticket in sight" (Comprehensive)

ISPS Handa Australian Women's Open Final Day 1 Over Par '3-Stroke Big Win', Olson 2nd, Jo A-yeon Tied 6th

Park In-bee is cheering while holding the trophy immediately after winning the ISPS Handa Australian Women's Open. Adelaide (Australia) = Getty Images / Multibits Photo by Getty Images

[Asia Economy Golf Specialist Reporter Kim Hyun-jun] 'Golf Queen' Park In-bee (32, KB Financial Group) has finally reached the milestone of 20 career wins.

On the 16th (Korean time), at the Royal Adelaide Golf Club in Adelaide, Australia (par 73, 6,648 yards), the final day of the 4th event of the 2020 LPGA Tour season, the ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open (total prize money $1.3 million), Park finished with a 1-over par under strong winds to secure a commanding 3-stroke victory (14-under 278). This was her first win of the season and her 20th career victory, coming 1 year and 11 months after winning the Founders Cup in March 2018. The winner's prize money was $195,000 (23 million KRW).

Park In-bee surged with a 5-under par round the previous day to seize the lead, and starting the final day with a 3-stroke lead, she recorded 3 birdies and 4 bogeys. After exchanging 2 birdies and 2 bogeys on the front nine to maintain her score, she had 'stepping stone bogeys' on holes 14 and 16 in the back nine, but sealed the victory with a birdie on the 17th hole (par 5) with a 2-on 2-putt. As the wind grew stronger in the afternoon, she missed the green 7 times, but her 30 precise 'dry putts' proved decisive at critical moments.

Most importantly for Park In-bee, it was significant that she shook off the disappointment of losing in a playoff at the season opener, the Diamond Resort Tournament, on the 20th of last month. This year, she chose a rigorous schedule, entering four consecutive tournaments early in the season. This is to secure a spot for the Tokyo Olympics in August. By June, she needs to be ranked within the top 15 in the world and among the top 4 Korean players. Currently ranked 17th, this victory has brightened her prospects.

It is worth noting that Park In-bee was the gold medalist at the 2016 Rio Olympics in Brazil. Following her 'major three-peat' wins in April 2013 at the Nabisco Championship, June at the Wegmans LPGA Championship, and July at the U.S. Women's Open, she added the British Women's Open trophy in August 2015 to become the first Korean to achieve a 'career Grand Slam,' and with the Olympic gold medal, she set a new milestone as the world's first to achieve a 'career Golden Slam' in golf.

Since professional players joined the Olympics in tennis in 1988, players like Steffi Graf (Germany), Andre Agassi (USA), and Rafael Nadal (Spain) have consecutively joined the 'Golden Slam club,' but Park In-bee is the first in the golf world. Park herself said, "My putting has improved," and revealed her hunter instinct by stating, "My biggest goal this year is to defend my Olympic gold medal." Amy Olson (USA) finished second (11-under 281), and Cho A-yeon (20) struggled with a 4-over par, finishing tied for 6th (8-under 284).