In Gee Chun, The LPGA Tour’s First 2016 Rookie (Video)

By Elizabeth Bethel | Jul 31, 2015

My name is In Gee Chun. My coach, Dr. Won Park, gave me the nickname “Dumbo.” Many of you met me when I won the U.S. Women’s Open, and I look forward to getting to know you and for more of you getting to know me when I officially join the LPGA Tour for the 2016 season.

Two weeks ago a remarkable young Korean woman, a relative unknown to western golf fans, left us stunned and in awe when she edged out Morgan Pressel and Amy Yang, Inbee Park and Stacy Lewis and hoisted the US Women’s Open trophy. It was Chun’s glass slipper moment, but then for two weeks it seemed as though she might not be going to attend the ball after all.

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A Tour victory is an automatic door-opener for non-Tour members. Brooke Henderson has been scrambling all year to capture that golden ring. But the Marathon Classic rolled by and then the Meijer LPGA Classic without Chun in the field. Was this KLPGA standout going to turn down the opportunity for a spot on the LPGA Tour?

The deafening two-week silence has ended. We finally have answers to our questions!

Jordan Spieth. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Chun has announced via The Players Tribune that she’ll be joining the Tour at the beginning of the 2016 season. Her explanation for the delay recalls Jordan Spieth‘s reasoning for playing in the RBC Heritage the week after he won The Masters, and again in the John Deere Classic the week before The Open Championship.

Chun has obligations and commitments to KLPGA tournaments and to her current sponsors and she, like Jordan Spieth, intends to keep them.

Alison Lee. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports

There is also the matter of her education. Chun, like Alison Lee, is not ready to abandon a college education in mid-stream. By timing her move from the KLPGA to the LPGA carefully, Chun will have completed the bulk of her coursework at Korean University, Korea’s elite elite university, and be better “prepared to devote the time and energy necessary to be competitive on the LPGA Tour.”

"Completing college and getting my degree is very important to me because even though I am confident in my ability on the golf course, I want to make sure I have other skills, other knowledge and other options outside of golf — just in case."

Chun understands first-hand how a financial crisis can devastate an individual or a family. She watched her own family’s small business fail and at the age of 17 she became responsible for her family’s economic well-being.

"When I turned professional at 17, I was not ready. My game was not ready. But I had to do something to start making money and contribute to my family."

Chun’s done well making a living at playing golf and if her US Women’s Open victory is an indicator, she’s going to extend that track record well into the future. Chun’s keenly aware of the Korean presence in women’s professional golf and readily acknowledges the support she’s received from Korean players who have already transitioned to the LPGA’s big stage.

Even as she prepares to move forward personally, Chun remains committed to promoting the sport among a younger generation of Korean girls, to growing the game in her home country as well as around the world.

And I am looking forward to seeing more of Il Gee Chun, beginning this weekend at Turnberry, where she squeaked by the cut line and will start the second half of the RICOH Women’s British Open at 4 shots over par.

Chun’s paired with Sandra Gal for the 3rd round. They’ll tee off at 9:05am local time.

Fore!

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