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Post by HappyFan on Oct 15, 2017 21:08:54 GMT
As this week made plain, Sung Hyun Park is getting closer and closer to becoming the #1 golfer in the world. She might even be there for all I know, although from what they said on the broadcast this week, it sounds like she needed to win to get to the top.
I'm not so sure, however, that Park would be a good #1 for the Koreans. Whoever the top golfer is will become in some ways the representative for the entire Korean squad. I have nothing against Park, but the criticisms of the Koreans (by westerners) are that they are not friendly to fans, are unemotional, and don't speak English. Park seems to tick all those marks (note that I don't know if she is actually unfriendly, just that her frowning face gives off that impression most of the time).
It's true that Inbee Park, for instance, is known for being unemotional, but she also speaks fluent English. So Yeon Ryu, meanwhile, seems to have just about everything you could want in a top player. She's very friendly, has tons of personality, really knows how to present herself on a course (one of the best dressers out there), speaks great English, and is also quite good looking.
Park seems to need to learn how to comport herself in the sort of non-course appearances she would have to make if she gets to be the best player. When she shows up for important galas in her pants and dorky shoes, it seems like she never got the memo about what is expected. When she poses for stupid promo photos as is often required, she often seems to be (barely) going through the motions; she seems more irritated by these sorts of things than, say, In Gee Chun does.
Now, this is not to say that Park couldn't learn all this stuff, but she doesn't seem comfortable with it NOW.
What do you guys think? Is this too unfair to her? Or am I just preparing everyone for the criticism that is sure to come her way?
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Post by 18majors on Oct 15, 2017 21:21:07 GMT
Having a No. 1 player is always a good thing for any country; be it the US, Sweden, Australia, Mexico, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, New Zealand or Thailand.
Whether the No. 1 player happens to be a popular player is irrelevant.
I love nothing more than for In Gee to be No. 1. She, likes Ai Miyazato, would be one of the most popular No. 1. But. nobody can't do anything if she can't get there.
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Post by legitimategolf on Oct 15, 2017 22:27:33 GMT
As this week made plain, Sung Hyun Park is getting closer and closer to becoming the #1 golfer in the world. She might even be there for all I know, although from what they said on the broadcast this week, it sounds like she needed to win to get to the top. I'm not so sure, however, that Park would be a good #1 for the Koreans. Whoever the top golfer is will become in some ways the representative for the entire Korean squad. I have nothing against Park, but the criticisms of the Koreans (by westerners) are that they are not friendly to fans, are unemotional, and don't speak English. Park seems to tick all those marks (note that I don't know if she is actually unfriendly, just that her frowning face gives off that impression most of the time). It's true that Inbee Park, for instance, is known for being unemotional, but she also speaks fluent English. So Yeon Ryu, meanwhile, seems to have just about everything you could want in a top player. She's very friendly, has tons of personality, really knows how to present herself on a course (one of the best dressers out there), speaks great English, and is also quite good looking. Park seems to need to learn how to comport herself in the sort of non-course appearances she would have to make if she gets to be the best player. When she shows up for important galas in her pants and dorky shoes, it seems like she never got the memo about what is expected. When she poses for stupid promo photos as is often required, she often seems to be (barely) going through the motions; she seems more irritated by these sorts of things than, say, In Gee Chun does. Now, this is not to say that Park couldn't learn all this stuff, but she doesn't seem comfortable with it NOW. What do you guys think? Is this too unfair to her? Or am I just preparing everyone for the criticism that is sure to come her way? Usually I can agree with your opinions, but this is both unfair and off the mark. It's not really in the spirit of sports and competition to question a player's merit because of her personality and looks. Frankly when I read stuff like this it makes the rebel in me root for her even more, and hope that she doesn't necessarily conform to certain Western ideals just for others's sake. Perhaps that will drive home the point that sports is truly not about that other crap. All that other crap has to do with marketing and nothing else. Marketing is fine but let the marketing people worry about that. I tend to see the upside of SHP. She truly is different and not different like they say an Angel Yin is different just because she pulls faces and what not. SHP is an individualist, she walks the walk and I believe she actually inspires more people than anyone else out there does. Who else out there is as decidedly non-girly? It's a healthy contrast I think. Not all young girls relate to Paula Creamer. And speaking from experience, my own GF is not butch at all in anyway yet she loves SHP. Women tend to love when other women have the nerve to wear their hair and dress like that. Aside from all that, she brings a new level of swing technique to the LPGA. She can inspire awe in many a male recreational golfer, and how is that not good for the game. (Ariya IMO hinted at the same kind of potential, but then she fizzled out) On a related thought I had mixed feelings about In Gee this week. I adore and idolize In Gee Chun but I sometimes get this feeling like she--albeit in her own quiet and graceful way--grasps too much for attention and admiration, to the point where it saps some of her energy. I know this is like borderline obsessive fan, but I'd like to see her be a little more inward while she's on the course. Anyways what's my point again? I wonder if In Gee were to take #1, what would that be like? I fear that the situation would quickly become fawning and cloying. SHP as #1 would rock the boat! And why not! I was initially a non-fan, when I first saw her at the Hana Bank two years ago. I was like, "Who is this buzzkill?" And now she is like, my new Tiger Woods. |
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Post by don on Oct 15, 2017 23:20:56 GMT
You have to go a long way down the Rolex Rankings to find a decent person to be world #1 in my opinion.
222 in fact. Yani Tseng.
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Post by 18majors on Oct 15, 2017 23:55:40 GMT
You have to go a long way down the Rolex Rankings to find a decent person to be world #1 in my opinion. 222 in fact. Yani Tseng. Interestingly, Yani was the original Sung Hyun Park before we know there is a Sung Hyun Park. Coincidentally also; both can dominate the game like no others can. |
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Post by don on Oct 16, 2017 0:18:42 GMT
You have to go a long way down the Rolex Rankings to find a decent person to be world #1 in my opinion. 222 in fact. Yani Tseng. Interestingly, Yani was the original Sung Hyun Park before we know there is a Sung Hyun Park. Coincidentally also; both can dominate the game like no others can. It's funny that we're in the Sung Hyun Park era when not 12 months ago we were in the Big 3 era of Lydia, Brooke and Ariya. You never know for sure until you're looking back. |
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Post by 18majors on Oct 16, 2017 0:31:57 GMT
Interestingly, Yani was the original Sung Hyun Park before we know there is a Sung Hyun Park. Coincidentally also; both can dominate the game like no others can. It's funny that we're in the Sung Hyun Park era when not 12 months ago we were in the Big 3 era of Lydia, Brooke and Ariya. You never know for sure until you're looking back. We have had Sorenstam, Ochoa, Tseng, Inbee Park and Lydia Ko eras. We may add a Sung Hyun Park era in 3-5 years. |
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Post by SoYeonFan on Oct 16, 2017 0:35:08 GMT
I haven't seen the new Rolex Rankings yet.
Have Sung Hyun taken over the number one spot.
If so will she be there after next week.
Just asking, until she do these conversations are what if?
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Post by 18majors on Oct 16, 2017 0:43:50 GMT
I haven't seen the new Rolex Rankings yet. Have Sung Hyun taken over the number one spot. If so will she be there after next week. Just asking, until she do these conversations are what if? Sung Hyun needed to earn 40 more ranking points than So Yeon to become No. 1; she didn't. Both Sung Hyun and So Yeon are playing Taiwan; whoever finishes solo third or better will most likely be No. 1 the week after. |
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Post by 18majors on Oct 16, 2017 1:00:27 GMT
As this week made plain, Sung Hyun Park is getting closer and closer to becoming the #1 golfer in the world. She might even be there for all I know, although from what they said on the broadcast this week, it sounds like she needed to win to get to the top. I'm not so sure, however, that Park would be a good #1 for the Koreans. Whoever the top golfer is will become in some ways the representative for the entire Korean squad. I have nothing against Park, but the criticisms of the Koreans (by westerners) are that they are not friendly to fans, are unemotional, and don't speak English. Park seems to tick all those marks (note that I don't know if she is actually unfriendly, just that her frowning face gives off that impression most of the time). It's true that Inbee Park, for instance, is known for being unemotional, but she also speaks fluent English. So Yeon Ryu, meanwhile, seems to have just about everything you could want in a top player. She's very friendly, has tons of personality, really knows how to present herself on a course (one of the best dressers out there), speaks great English, and is also quite good looking. Park seems to need to learn how to comport herself in the sort of non-course appearances she would have to make if she gets to be the best player. When she shows up for important galas in her pants and dorky shoes, it seems like she never got the memo about what is expected. When she poses for stupid promo photos as is often required, she often seems to be (barely) going through the motions; she seems more irritated by these sorts of things than, say, In Gee Chun does. Now, this is not to say that Park couldn't learn all this stuff, but she doesn't seem comfortable with it NOW. What do you guys think? Is this too unfair to her? Or am I just preparing everyone for the criticism that is sure to come her way? On a related thought I had mixed feelings about In Gee this week. I adore and idolize In Gee Chun but I sometimes get this feeling like she--albeit in her own quiet and graceful way--grasps too much for attention and admiration, to the point where it saps some of her energy. In Gee derived energy from her fans; not the other way around. She didn't win because other players played better; not because of her fans. |
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Post by 18majors on Oct 16, 2017 1:42:12 GMT
I haven't seen the new Rolex Rankings yet. Have Sung Hyun taken over the number one spot. If so will she be there after next week. Just asking, until she do these conversations are what if? The new ranking is out; So Yeon is No. 1 with 8.75 and Sung Hyun is No. 2 with 8.50. Sung Hyun needs to earn 13.0 ranking points more than So Yeon in Taiwan to take over No. 1. As expected, In Gee is No. 4 with 7.09; she needs two wins including CME Group Tour Championship to have any chances at No. 1. |
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Post by philknj on Oct 16, 2017 3:53:49 GMT
Having a No. 1 player is always a good thing for any country; be it the US, Sweden, Australia, Mexico, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, New Zealand or Thailand. Based on the way HF phrased the question, you're exactly right. Here's the more relevant question: Would SH Park as #1 be good for the LPGA? My answer is hell no. |
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Post by philknj on Oct 16, 2017 4:02:33 GMT
You have to go a long way down the Rolex Rankings to find a decent person to be world #1 in my opinion. 222 in fact. Yani Tseng. Huh? Are you saying the first 221 are indecent persons? Yani did nothing for me as a world #1, although I'll concede that she's a good interview. Do you know that she bought Annika's old house? |
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Post by HappyFan on Oct 16, 2017 4:57:08 GMT
Having a No. 1 player is always a good thing for any country; be it the US, Sweden, Australia, Mexico, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, New Zealand or Thailand. Based on the way HF phrased the question, you're exactly right. Here's the more relevant question: Would SH Park as #1 be good for the LPGA? My answer is hell no. What I meant is that, if a number one player comes from a given country, of course it's a good thing for that country. But, it also means that that player becomes the face of that country's golfers for the rest of the world. In that respect, I wonder about Park. It's one thing to be "different" if you just represent yourself. But when you are a figurehead for all the players from your country, you have more responsibility (at least I think so). I don't see Park as wanting that or being prepared to deal with it. And given the way she is, and the type of criticism often leveled at the Koreans, I don't think she's ideally suited. That's not a knock on her. That's my theory about how players who become #1 are treated if they don't fit the proper template. As for the LPGA, that's a different question. I find it hard to imagine them wholeheartedly embracing her. Or even halfheartedly. |
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Post by don on Oct 16, 2017 13:22:35 GMT
You have to go a long way down the Rolex Rankings to find a decent person to be world #1 in my opinion. 222 in fact. Yani Tseng. Huh? Are you saying the first 221 are indecent persons? Yani did nothing for me as a world #1, although I'll concede that she's a good interview. Do you know that she bought Annika's old house? Just cheeky hyperbole. She’s a better interview now after struggling but we don’t really hear those. To actually respond to the topic I think as long as when Sung Hyun does say something it’s interesting that’s better than having a jock who never says anything worth hearing even tho they talk and post on social all the time. |
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