INCHEON (Yonhap News) ― After coming up short in winning her fourth straight LPGA major last weekend, South Korean star Park In-bee said Tuesday she is ready to put the disappointment behind her.
Park arrived home on Tuesday to rest after competing at the Ricoh Women’s British Open at the Old Course in St. Andrews, Scotland.
She was seeking to become the first golfer, male or female, to win four consecutive professional majors in the same season, but she finished tied for 42nd at 6-over par, 14 shots behind the champion, Stacy Lewis of the United States.
Korea’s Park In-bee speaks to reporters at Incheon International Airport on Tuesday. ( Yonhap News)
At Incheon International Airport, Park, the world’s No. 1-ranked female golfer, said she was relieved to be done with the event.
“It was disappointing, but I learned a lot from the tournament,” the 25-year-old said. “I will now start fresh.”
Park won the first three majors of 2013 ― the Kraft Nabisco Championship, the Wegmans LPGA Championship and the U.S. Women’s Open ― and played under an enormous amount of scrutiny in Scotland.
More so than dealing with pressure off the course, Park said her inability to adjust to the greens at St. Andrews was ultimately her undoing.
“On a course like that, you need to figure out the greens, but I was distracted by strong winds and other factors,” she said.
“But I think I can play better in similar situations in the future.”
Having failed to complete her single-season Grand Slam, Park said she will keep her sight on the one feat that she’s long wanted to accomplish: winning the Player of the Year honors.
She leads the points race with 281. Lewis, the 2012 Player of the Year, is in second with 161. No South Korean player has won the honors. Park was second behind Lewis last year.
“Lewis has closed the gap,” Park noted. “And I really want to win the Player of the Year race.”
Golfers are awarded points for top-10 finishes, and points are doubled for their performances at major championships and the season-ending CME Group Titleholders. A victory is worth 30 points at regular tour events. Park has won six times, including three majors, while Lewis has won three events, including one major.
Park can still win her fourth major in 2013. The Evian Championship, set for Sept. 12 to 15 in France, has been upgraded to a major tournament starting this year. Park won the event last year when it was called the Evian Masters.
The event is more than a month away, and Park said she’s not looking that far down the road yet.
“I want to relax and spend some time with my family,” said Park, who will be home until Aug. 18.
