Editorial: Korean Players and the LPGA

The TV networks have responded as well. We are seeing more coverage of the Asian players in the broadcasts, not only while they are playing, but even in the form of biographical segments and interviews. Se Ri recently got such a segment on an ESPN broadcast, and it struck me that this was one of the first times the #2 player in the game had ever gotten that kind of treatment. When the day comes when a player like Mi Hyun Kim gets one, we'll know the Koreans have really been accepted (she has been a top ten player in the world for five years and we know next to nothing about her in this country, because she is so rarely covered). But progress is being made.

The Korean players have been doing their part, too. Besides playing outstanding golf, they have participated in photo shoots and media events, and have made more efforts to smile and interact with the crowds at tournaments. This was never a problem for players like Grace Park (although even she has become more outgoing), but it was quite encouraging to see Jung Yeon Lee, for instance, who is shy and does not speak great English, interviewed on the Golf Channel following her explosive 60 at the first event of the year.

Mi Hyun is very popular in Korea,
but gets very little attention in
the US, mostly because she is not very
fluent in English

The normally taciturn Aree Song was
extremely psyched following her made
eagle putt at the Nabisco last month

Think about some of the other impressions the Korean players have made this year: Seol-An Jeon smiled a lot during her endless playoff with Cristie Kerr at the Takefuji Classic, and showed her emotions almost every time she made a clutch shot. Shi Hyun Ahn seems to have a smile on her face a lot. Mi Hyun Kim's body language when she putts has become more demonstrative than ever. Who will ever forget Aree Song's fist pumps following her eagle on the last hole of the Nabisco (has she ever been that animated on a golf course before?), and Grace's exuberance when she won moments later?

Yes, some of these players were already doing that sort of thing before, but what is encouraging is that even the relative newcomers like Ahn and Jeon are clearly making the effort to fit in, even if they are not naturally comfortable with doing so.

Clearly, the LPGA has realized that the Koreans are here to stay, and that this is a good thing. These players are mostly young, attractive, ultra-talented, and really quite personable. But they need to feel like they are welcome in order to let their personalities come out. When they do, they are willing to take steps to broaden their appeal among non-Korean fans. It's always been a win-win situation for the tour, and I'm glad to see them finally taking advantage of it.