LOS ANGELES — An ailing Park In-bee hopes to show she belongs in the hall-of-fame, while red-hot Ariya Jutanugarn is aiming for a record-tying fourth straight win at this week’s Women’s PGA Championship.
South Korea’s Park will officially qualify for the LPGA Hall of Fame if she completes the first round of the golf major championship Thursday in Seattle, Washington.
“I just can’t believe I’ve done what I’ve done over the past 10 years. I feel truly honored,” said world No. 2 Park.
One of the criteria for active LPGA players to qualify for its hall of fame is they have to play at least 10 years on the Tour.
World No. 2 Park arrived at the Sahalee Country Club course as the three-time reigning champion of the event, representing three of her seven career major victories.
Park is also suffering from a nagging thumb injury. She posted opening-round scores of 74 and 84 in her last two tournaments.
She says the thumb feels better than it has in recent weeks and she intends to play as many holes as possible.
“I know it’s hard to believe in myself, but one thing that I have been trying to do is build my confidence,” Park said Wednesday. “I’m not going to die because of the thumb pain.
“Being able to get inducted into the Hall of Fame after tomorrow, no matter how many times I measure myself it still feels surreal.”
A more serious threat to win the title Sunday is Thailand’s Ariya, who has been the hottest player on the Tour having won her last three starts. Those wins marked her first three victories of her career and vaulted her to No. 10 in the world rankings.
Ariya is aiming to tie Nancy Lopez’s record of four consecutive victories. Ariya, of Bangkok, knows it will be a tough challenge.
Another favorite is 19-year-old Lydia Ko, who has spent the past 33 weeks atop the rankings and has collected two major titles during that time. She expects a “deserving” champion to be crowned on the weekend.
Thitiphun thrilled by US Open berth
Emerging Thai player Thitiphun Chuayprakong is determined to make the most of his last minute call-up for next week’s US Open at Oakmont after former world No. 1 Tiger Woods withdrew from the tournament.
The 23-year-old was the first alternate from Japan sectional qualifying and will make his major tournament debut after Woods, who has not played since undergoing back surgery last September, confirmed he was not ready to return to action.
“I am feeling very happy,” Thitiphun, who claimed his breakthrough title in Bangladesh earlier this year, said in an Asian Tour statement.
Indian Anirban Lahiri, Korean K.T. Tim and Filipino Miguel Tabuena, who topped sectional qualifying in California earlier this week, are the other Asian Tour members in the field.
