Yang Hee-young's Dramatic Victory Sends Three Koreans to Paris
Coda Leads Three Americans, Japan's Yamashita Upset
Jutanugarn Sisters Advance, Hataoka Eliminated in Shocker
At least some pride was preserved.
Yang Hee-young won the KPMG Women's PGA Championship, securing a dramatic ticket to the Paris Olympics.
This is about the participation of Korean women’s golf in the Paris Olympics. Yang Hee-young won the third major tournament of the year on the LPGA Tour, the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship (total prize money $10.4 million), held at Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish, Washington, USA, on the 23rd, securing an Olympic ticket in a dramatic fashion. After this tournament, Yang Hee-young jumped from 25th to 5th in the world rankings, earning her spot on the Olympic stage.
The women’s division for the Paris Olympics selected 60 players from 34 countries based on world rankings. According to the world rankings, the top two players from each country represent their nation at the Olympics. If a country has two or more players ranked within the top 15, up to four players can participate. The host country, France, is guaranteed at least one spot.
This year’s tournament will be held over four days starting August 7 at Le Golf National near Paris, France (par 71, 7,249 yards). The venue has hosted the Open de France on the DP World Tour (formerly the European Tour) since 1991. In 2018, the Ryder Cup, a golf competition between the USA and Europe, was held there. The format is a 72-hole stroke play over four rounds. This marks the third consecutive Olympic golf event following Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and Tokyo in 2020. Eight years ago, “Golf Queen” Park In-bi won gold, and four years ago, Korda took the gold medal.
Korea will send the largest number of players to the Paris Olympics, with three participants. World No. 3 Ko Jin-young, Yang Hee-young, and No. 13 Kim Hyo-joo will board the flight. This matches the USA’s maximum number of participants. The USA’s team includes world No. 1 and Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Nelly Korda, No. 2 Lilia Vu, and No. 9 Rose Zhang. Ally Ewing (USA) performed well with a tie for 5th place at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship but ranked 16th in the world, narrowly missing out on the Olympics.
Japan will be represented by US Women’s Open champion Saso Yuka (10th) and Yamashita Miyu (19th). Yamashita succeeded in a late surge by finishing runner-up at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. Japan’s representatives Furue Ayaka (20th) and Hataoka Nasa (24th) shed tears. Thailand, a rising golf power, will challenge for medals with Atthaya Thitikul (12th) and Patty Tavatanakit (25th). Former Thai golf leaders Ariya (54th) and Moriya Jutanugarn (123rd) failed to qualify due to poor performance this year.
China will compete with Yin Ruoning (4th) and Lin Xiyu (15th) carrying the five-star flag. The host nation France’s Olympic spots went to C?line Boutier (6th) and Perrine Delacour (75th). Australia’s Hannah Green (7th) and Minjee Lee (11th), England’s Charley Hull (8th) and Georgia Hall (36th), Canada’s Brooke Henderson (14th) and Alena Sharp (292nd), New Zealand’s Lydia Ko (17th), and Momoka Kobori (293rd) are on the entry list. Some countries reduced the number of participants. The Netherlands, for example, could have sent Anne van Dam (108th) and Dewi Weber (302nd), but only van Dam will participate. The Dutch Golf Federation judged Weber to be less competitive.
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