Ha Na Jang Archives - Golf Digest Middle East https://mot-backup.golfdigestme.com/tag/ha-na-jang/ Golf Instruction, Equipment, Courses, Travel, News Mon, 12 Dec 2022 10:42:26 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.2 https://mot-backup.golfdigestme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/gd-favicon.ico Ha Na Jang Archives - Golf Digest Middle East https://mot-backup.golfdigestme.com/tag/ha-na-jang/ 32 32 Tiger Woods’ record-tying win, Brooks Koepka’s bold Halloween costume, and the craziest tee shot in PGA Tour history https://mot-backup.golfdigestme.com/tiger-woods-record-tying-win-brooks-koepkas-bold-halloween-costume-and-the-craziest-tee-shot-in-pga-tour-history/ https://mot-backup.golfdigestme.com/tiger-woods-record-tying-win-brooks-koepkas-bold-halloween-costume-and-the-craziest-tee-shot-in-pga-tour-history/#respond Fri, 01 Nov 2019 01:00:04 +0000 https://golfdigestme.com/?p=30336 With Tiger Woods and LeBron James playing at the same time, I hadn’t been so excited about staying up late...

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]]> By Alex Myers
Welcome to another edition of The Grind where we wish Daylight Saving Time had come a week earlier. With Tiger Woods and LeBron James playing at the same time, I hadn’t been so excited about staying up late on a weekend night since I was in college. But come Sunday morning, I really could have used that extra hour of sleep. Fueled by adrenaline and Monster (kidding, I haven’t had one of those since college), though, I put on my Tiger (business casual) red and powered through. Let’s jump right in because we have a LOT to talk about.

WE’RE BUYING

Tiger Woods: Remember when people were writing Tiger’s career obituary after that ugly first round at the Open in July? Even though he had won THE MASTERS just three months before? Whoops. Don’t underestimate this guy. Ever.

Ben Jared

Even after bogeying his first three holes on Thursday, he shot 64. Even after eating and getting stranded at a Domino’s on Friday, he shot 64 on Saturday. And even having to play 29 holes on Sunday, he maintained his lead and closed the deal on Monday for his 82nd career PGA Tour title, tying the great man he met when he was just a young Tiger cub drinking soda and already wearing red:

Aww, that’s adorable. But Tiger is now undefeated in official PGA Tour events since another special encounter:

Just saying …

Tiger Woods with a 54-hole lead: Viewers were more saturated with these stats than Narashino Golf Course after six inches of rain, but they can’t be pointed out enough. Woods is now 46 of 48 when it comes to closing out tournaments in which he holds at least a share of the 54-hole lead. That’s 96 per cent. And his conversion rate is a perfect 25 of 25 when entering the final round at least three shots in the lead. Amazing.

Ben Jared/PGA TOUR via Getty Images

There are so many staggering stats surrounding Woods’ 82 wins (Here, I made you a handy guide), but his ability to hold a lead might be the most remarkable. Speaking of stats, Woods’ career winning percentage is an absurd 22.8. With three wins in his past 14 starts, though, his winning percentage during that span is 21.4. In other words, he’s still winning at a ridiculous rate, so be careful when writing him off next time.

Narashino Country Club’s drainage system: This was the golf course on Friday:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4CVArrBhWs/?utm_source=ig_embed

And they played the next day! Sure, the par-4 10th was shortened to a par-3 distance, but even Augusta National and its fancy subair system had to be impressed. Like all winners, Woods thanked the grounds crew during the trophy ceremony, but this time, he really meant it. Those guys were miracle workers.

WE’RE SELLING

McCord and Kostis: In a surprising shakeup, CBS didn’t renew the contracts of either Gary McCord and Peter Kostis, letting two longtime broadcasters go (McCord had worked with the network since 1986, Kostis since 1992) rather unceremoniously. “Bottom line, they fired me,” McCord told Golf Digest’s Dave Shedloski. I’m sad to see them go, especially in this manner. Gary once signed a golf ball for me in a parking lot when I was in high school. And Peter, well, just look at him lugging all that equipment around!

He might be the hardest-working man in the golf biz(hub). But seriously, they will be missed.

Trying this Bubba Watson tee shot: To be clear, I’m fine with Bubba going for this. In fact, it’s one of the most creative and impressive shots of the PGA Tour season. Seriously, I can’t stop watching:

But think of the copycats out there doing this at their own munis? Golf courses all over the world should probably think about adding internal out-of-bounds signs to prevent injuries.

Tiger’s win total: As cool as it was to watch Woods tie this longstanding record, in reality, he passed it long ago. As I’ve pointed out before, using the same criteria for Snead’s total (including team wins!), Tiger should now have 96 wins—meaning golf fans should be charged up about him CHASING 100 (sounds cooler, right?) than 82.

Toshifumi Kitamura

Hopefully, someday, a panel of golf historians will gather to comb through Woods’ record and make this adjustment like those assembled in the late 1980s to officially establish Snead’s mark. And if/when they do, I’ll be happy to help.

ON TAP

The PGA Tour heads to Shanghai for the WGC-HSBC Champions, AKA that tournament with a lot of letters in the title. Those not fortunate enough to qualify for the event will be playing in the inaugural Bermuda Championship (or taking the week off altogether like Tiger).

Random tournament fact: Carlos Franco, Joey Sindelar and Paul Stankowski are among those in the Bermuda Championship field. Yes, it’s still 2019.

RANDOM PROP BETS OF THE WEEK

—Bubba would try something like that at Augusta National (Maybe on No. 18?): 1 MILLION-to-1 odds

—Tiger Woods is picking himself for the Presidents Cup team: LOCK

—No one in Shanghai or Bermuda will ever threaten Tiger’s 82 wins: Also a LOCK

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

The bizarre scene caused by no spectators allowed on the grounds for Round 2 Saturday in Japan was a no-brainer:

Although, this spectator shot is pretty good too …

Go Deacs!

VIRAL VIDEO OF THE WEEK

We’ve seen plenty of Tiger golf clinic videos before, but probably never quite the reactions he drew from these Japanese fans:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4C_WV-lqhZ/?utm_source=ig_embed

And how about this video of Tiger nearly being taken out by a microphone?!

To think, he might still be “Chasing 82” if that had hit him a bit harder. Scary stuff. Let’s all promise to handle this guy with a little more care, OK?

QUOTE(S) OF THE WEEK

“I think the player definitely got the captain’s attention.” —Tiger Woods on the prospects of making himself a playing captain. Good answer, but Gary Woodland might have topped it when asked if Tiger should pick himself for Team USA. “If he doesn’t, that’s … dumb.” Good call, Gary.

TWEET OF THE WEEK

https://twitter.com/golf_strange/status/1188906036238999553

A classy, sharp, and self-deprecating tweet from the guy who has been ridiculed through the years for saying “You’ll learn” to a young Tiger Woods during an infamous interview. Well played, Curtis. Of course, I’d expect nothing less from a fellow Wake Forest alum.

THIS WEEK IN CELEBRITY GOLFERS

Golden Tate showed his love of Golf—and Golf Digest!—on his cleats:

As if I needed another reason to like this New York Giants wide receiver.

THIS WEEK IN PGA TOUR-WAG PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF AFFECTION (AND HALLOWEEN SPIRIT)

While Woods was winning in Japan, golf’s injured superstars were hanging out at quite the Halloween bash in Jupiter, Fla. Here’s Brooks Koepka invoking a classic Justin Timberlake “SNL” sketch and Jena Sims going with the classic “devil” look (What percentage of women dress as devils or cats? 80? 90? Tiger with a 54-hole lead?):

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4Gvu8BBO3T/?utm_source=ig_embed

And how about Dustin Johnson and Paulina Gretzky with a nod to “Semi-Pro”?

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4Ky6D9nf_w/?utm_source=ig_embed

Austin Johnson and Sam Maddox went as cops:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4LBIrCptyO/?utm_source=ig_embed

And not to be outdone, Tori Slater, went as Julia Roberts from “Pretty Woman” while boyfriend Daniel Berger played in Japan:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4K_UJrg700/?utm_source=ig_embed

Too bad, because Daniel could have pulled off a good Richard Gere:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BOnglU7jCZK/?utm_source=ig_embed

I hope that didn’t cost the couple the party’s best costume prize! Oh, and in case you’re wondering, I’m not wearing a Halloween costume for about the 20th consecutive year, but my 19-month-old daughter is dressing up as a dog because she’s obsessed with dogs. So check back next week for photos.

THIS WEEK IN PHIL BEING PHIL

Wait … this can’t be right … Phil hasn’t posted anything on social media in more than a week? Has anyone checked on him lately?

THIS WEEK IN EDDIE BEING EDDIE

Eddie Pepperell is doing everything he can to find Martin Kaymer a girlfriend, including signing him up to appear on a British reality TV show called “First Dates.”

What a great friend.

THIS AND THAT

The United States Postal Service will honour Arnold Palmer with a commemorative stamp in 2020. Considering how much money on postage he is said to have spent responding to fans, no one has ever been more deserving of such an honour. … Congrats to Ha Na Jang, who made a rare LPGA cameo in her home country and won the BMW Ladies Championship. She’s still got it after leaving the LPGA Tour two years ago. Then again, she’s only 27 so her still having “it” isn’t too surprising. … Congrats to Steven Brown, who was on his way to Q School for the seventh time in eight years before stunning the field at the Portugal Masters for his first career European Tour title. But has he done anything to help Martin Kaymer’s love life? … And a special congrats to the 30 PGA Tour pros who made Golf Digest’s latest Nice Guys list. With a top three of Rickie Fowler, Gary Woodland, and Jordan Spieth, who says nice guys finish last?

Stan Badz

Well, Spieth finished pretty far down the board in Japan, but you get the point. …

RANDOM QUESTIONS TO PONDER

Will I ever wear a Halloween costume again?

Who will inherit the Konica Minolta Bizhub Swing Vision Camera?

Seriously, is Phil Mickelson OK?

 

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]]> https://mot-backup.golfdigestme.com/tiger-woods-record-tying-win-brooks-koepkas-bold-halloween-costume-and-the-craziest-tee-shot-in-pga-tour-history/feed/ 0 South Korea’s Ha Na Jang wins BMW Ladies Championship, faces decision whether to rejoin LPGA Tour https://mot-backup.golfdigestme.com/south-koreas-ha-na-jang-wins-bmw-ladies-championship-faces-decision-whether-to-rejoin-lpga-tour/ https://mot-backup.golfdigestme.com/south-koreas-ha-na-jang-wins-bmw-ladies-championship-faces-decision-whether-to-rejoin-lpga-tour/#respond Sun, 27 Oct 2019 21:52:21 +0000 https://golfdigestme.com/?p=30195 Ha Na Jang is no stranger to the LPGA, having won four times in 2½ years on tour in 2016 and 2017. The 27-year-old has the opportunity to return if she wishes.

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]]> Jung Yeon-Je/Getty Images
Ha Na Jang celebrates her playoff victory at the 2019 BMW Ladies Championship in her native South Korea.

By Ryan Herrington
Ha Na Jang is no stranger to the LPGA, having won four times in 2½ years on tour in 2016 and 2017. The 27-year-old has the opportunity to return if she wishes, after shooting a final-round 65 at the BMW Ladies Championship, then winning the title in her native South Korea in a three-hole playoff over Danielle Kang.

Jang left the LPGA in May 2017 citing a desire to return home and be closer to her parents. She resumed her career in Korea, where she has won 12 times on the KLPGA since turning pro in 2010. By winning on Sunday as a non-LPGA member, Jang can re-join the LPGA Tour immediately or take membership once more in 2020.

Jang’s place on the KLPGA money list earned her a spot in the field at LPGA International Busan, and she settled in quickly with rounds of 69-67-68 to sit one off the lead entering the final round.

Kang, a winner a week earlier at the Buick LPGA Shanghai, was two back and got off to a fast start on Sunday. The American, who has ties to the Busan area (she lived there parts of several years as a child due to her father’s job) made eight birdies in her first 13 holes, charging to a four-shot lead at one point before finishing with a bogey-free 64, the low round of the tournament.

Jang was playing impressively, too, shooting a back-nine 31 with a birdie on the 17th hole that tied Kang at 19 under overall and forced the playoff.

The pair matched pars on the first extra hole before Kang lipped out a 12-foot birdie try on the second that would have given her the title. On the third playoff hole, the par-4 10th, Jang hit her approach to four feet. When Kang missed a 20-foot birdie try, Jang rolled in her putt for the win.

Jang’s victory is even more impressive considering her current physical state; for at least a month she’s been dealing with a hairline stress fracture in her foot. She managed the injury en route to a victory three weeks ago in Korea, but had to withdraw from her last two starts, a pair of majors on the KLPGA.

Jang faces a different type of play-or-not-play decision in the coming weeks regarding a return to the LPGA. To become a member in 2020, she must notify tour officials by Nov. 18.

“As for going back to the LPGA, there’s a lot to discuss,” Jang said. “My mother is not quite well yet. I think I would have an answer for you regarding returning to the LPGA later on. I can’t say right now.”

 

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]]> https://mot-backup.golfdigestme.com/south-koreas-ha-na-jang-wins-bmw-ladies-championship-faces-decision-whether-to-rejoin-lpga-tour/feed/ 0 Golf’s leading ladies light up ‘Asia’s major’ https://mot-backup.golfdigestme.com/golfs-leading-ladies-light-asias-major/ https://mot-backup.golfdigestme.com/golfs-leading-ladies-light-asias-major/#respond Wed, 01 Mar 2017 12:03:36 +0000 http://golfdigestme.com/?p=4106 With the world’s best men in Mexico for the first WGC event of the year, golf’s leading ladies needed to do something different to ensure one of their biggest events gets its fair share of the spotlight. But why settle for the spotlight when you have lasers and a little lipstick? Defending champion Ha Na Jang, […]

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]]> With the world’s best men in Mexico for the first WGC event of the year, golf’s leading ladies needed to do something different to ensure one of their biggest events gets its fair share of the spotlight. But why settle for the spotlight when you have lasers and a little lipstick?

Defending champion Ha Na Jang, world No.1 Lydia Ko and U.S. superstars Lexi Thompson, Paula Creamer and Michelle Wie owned a stage in downtown Singapore to light up the HSBC Women’s Champions, the LPGA Tour’s elite 63-player invitational which tees off overnight.

Inspired by the iconic laser show at Marina Bay, the glam quintet helped the title-sponsor celebrate a “dazzling decade” of an event marketed as ‘Asia’s Major’.

With 19 of the world’s top 20 players lining up at Sentosa Golf Club this week, Ha Na Jang knows she has a challenge on her hands to defend on Sentosa’s New Tanjong course.

Lydia Ko and Ha Na Jang

“Last year was a huge moment for me and it’s great to be here to defend my crown and celebrate 10 years of the tournament in such spectacular style. I love the whole vibe of music and fun around this event. With such a strong field, there’s no doubt the golf can light up Singapore again this week.”

Kiwi Ko agreed: “If you look at the rankings there are fantastic young players coming through everywhere and this tournament has been a great platform for new talent to shine over the last decade. We have 19 out of the top 20 in the world here so it is going to be a tough week but I can’t wait to get started.”

American world No.6 Thompson clearly enjoyed playing dress ups. “It was really fun to take part in the photo call downtown and it’s all part of the Singapore experience.

“This event always delivers great entertainment as well as great golf and as a player it’s one you mark in the calendar as ‘Do Not Miss’.”

Michelle Wie, Paula Creamer and Lexi Thompson

Giles Morgan, HSBC Global Head of Sponsorship and Events, said the laser show was designed to “celebrate the last decade of our flagship women’s golf tournament and to tee up what promises to be another electrifying week for women’s golf.”

“Of course, the golf is the centrepiece but we pride ourselves on providing world class entertainment to match the world class golf. Last year we had Take That and this week South Korean superstar Lee Joon-Gi is the main attraction in what has become a celebration of music and food in an all-around entertainment experience unparalleled in women’s golf.

“It’s all part of our ‘Anyone’s Game’ campaign which is designed to open up the world of golf and attract new and younger audiences to the game – on the back of a successful return to the Olympic Games and a golden generation of exciting young players in the women’s game, we may never get a better opportunity.”

 

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