The most inspiring story in golf last week came 3,500 miles away from Royal Liverpool. Jane Park teed it up for the first time in two years on the LPGA Tour at the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational, making her first tour appearance since her now two-year-old daughter, Grace, suffered brain seizures that led Park to become a full-time caretaker.

Park, 36, had her family with her at Midland, Michigan, Pete Godfrey, her husband, is an LPGA caddie who works for Hye Jin Choi but looped for Park last week. Grace also attended the tournament, watching some of the practice round action and spending time in the LPGA’s daycare. Park’s teammate for the two-player team event, Paula Creamer, also brought her daughter Hilton, who played with Grace as they became inseparable during the week.

Midland Country Club sold pink hats with “Grace” on them, raising money for the Epilepsy Foundation and the Golf For Her Foundation. Players wore purple ribbons on their hats to support Park as well.

In support of @TheJanePark, Peter Godfrey and their daughter Grace —special ‘GRACE’ hats will be available for purchase this week at the Dow GLBI ?

The proceeds will be donated to the Epilepsy Foundation and the @Golf4Her foundation.

READ MORE https://t.co/JhUpVJgtdT pic.twitter.com/yUxf8tKQum

— Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational (@DowGLBI) July 18, 2023

“Overall, it was busy, but at the same time it really filled my heart to be able to do this,” Park said after missing the cut on Thursday. “If it is my last time [playing on tour], then I am very appreciative for the opportunity to kind of rewrite the ending of my golf career, and I’m thankful for the opportunity to play with Paula.”

Grace’s then undiagnosed seizures occurred in July 2021 during the Ascendant LPGA. Park rushed Grace, then only 10 months old, to a local hospital. Park stepped away from her 15-year tour career to care for Grace, becoming an advocate for disabled people. Park consistently posts to her social media channels on the challenges Grace, now diagnosed with intractable epilepsy, faces daily.

Teeing it up again on the LPGA was not on Park’s mind until Outlyr, the group that runs the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational, asked if she would be open to playing and bringing Grace along. Park played in the first edition of the tournament in 2019 with one of her closest friends, Tiffany Joh. However, Joh couldn’t play this week, as she’s now an associate head coach of the USC programme.

Expectations for the tournament, which Park acknowledged as likely her last career LPGA start, were understandably low. On the No Laying Up Podcast, Park shared she had played eight holes of golf over the two years since leaving the tour. She didn’t warm up on the range before practice rounds, trying to conserve her energy for the week. Park’s goals, instead of being primarily score-related, were to try to be as present as possible during the potential swansong of her playing career.

“I have definitely learned to live life in moments and not take anything for granted,” Park said in her pre-tournament press conference. “The fact that we’re here, the fact that I get to play with an amazing partner and raise awareness for epilepsy and disability.”

What followed were two days of highlights mostly away from the duo’s on-course 75-67 performance. Numerous fans walked the course supporting with their “Grace” hats. Park shared photos of her daughter beaming with laughter. During a second-round weather delay, Creamer and Park went to see their kids, with Park capturing a video of Hilton ending up on top of Grace in a ball pit as both smiled from ear to ear.

 

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A post shared by Jane Park (@thejanepark)

“Any time they’ve seen each other, Hilton just gravitates towards Grace,” said Creamer, who has been friends with part since their junior golf days two decades ago. “It’s really amazing.”

Creamer explained the time with Park was some of the most fun she has had in a long time on the LPGA. Creamer also witnessed Park’s rally at the end of their four-ball second round, where Park birdied three of their last four holes to end up at three-under for the day. Creamer teared up on the 18th, understanding it might be goodbye for Park.

“I would play with you in a heartbeat next year if you will take me,” Creamer said to Park. “Please stop saying this is your last one. I’m not ready for it yet.”

Happy with accomplishing her goal of shooting under par for the day, Park turned to her other purpose of playing for the week to wrap up her media availability. Park explained the need for advocacy for disabled people, noting, for example, that someone with a seizure isn’t allowed to drive for six months, impacting one in 26 people diagnosed with epilepsy’s ability to work. It is a world Park did not find herself in by choice, acknowledging how unaware she was of these issues until they impacted Grace. But now, Park is using her voice to champion what the disabled community needs.

“It’s my honour to share Grace’s story because I feel like so many people and so many children with the same disease and disabilities that go unheard and to have a sort of platform to sing praise to her story is an honour,” Park said. “It’s really an honour for me honestly every day to be her mum is the best thing.”

The post The story you missed last week on the LPGA Tour will inspire you while also breaking your heart appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Joel Beall
Following a weekend of national and global protests in wake of the death of George Floyd while in police custody, some prominent figures and authorities in golf spoke on Monday asking for understanding and justice.

The most prominent statement came from Harold Varner III. One of the few African American players on the PGA Tour, Varner released a letter preaching support for the oppressed while also asking for peace.

“I know how hard it is to build something. I know it, man,” Varner wrote on social media. “Seeing justice for George Floyd turn into destruction and theft of businesses owned by African Americans, Caucasians, Hispanics and all other ethnicities is disgusting. I will always be behind all African Americans who are subjected to racism. I will also be behind other ethnicities in the same way. But I will never support an aggressive reaction, especially against those who have poured everything into opening this restaurant or that shop.”

There is a lot of of beauty and love in this world. I pray for equality & social justice as we all so desperately deserve that in this day and age. I pray for humanity even more because regardless of color, WE need each other to make that change. Stay safe. Love you guys ??? pic.twitter.com/LrFEff94IF

— Harold Varner III (@HV3_Golf) June 1, 2020

The LPGA released a statement saying “We have more work to do and the resolve to do it.”

pic.twitter.com/bKL0GcOM9Z

— LPGA (@LPGA) June 1, 2020

Other players lent their support with their own words or aggregating quotes that speak to unity. Below is a sampling of those voices. (This post will be updated throughout the upcoming days.)

I’m a 29 year old white dude who has played golf his entire life and knows nearly nothing about what it feels like to be oppressed, discriminated against, or unsafe. So I spoke on what I do know and that’s being a nice and respectful person. pic.twitter.com/CEHKscIlEQ

— max homa (@maxhoma23) June 1, 2020

The @LPGA stands for equality. We will always stand up against racism and injustice of any kind. I may never understand how you feel, but I stand with you. ?? pic.twitter.com/s9b0AywR3l

— Jane Park (@TheJanePark) June 1, 2020

Black lives matter. I would want my American friends I met at U of I and across America to not be treated any different because of the color of their skin. As a president please unite your people now and give them solutions.

— Thomas Pieters (@Thomas_Pieters) June 1, 2020

“No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”
Nelson Mandela.

— Jon Rahm Rodriguez (@JonRahmpga) May 31, 2020

pic.twitter.com/opLMI2aRO2

— GARY PLAYER (@garyplayer) June 1, 2020

Absolutely this. Have been a proud member of the @LPGA for 25 years and love what we stand for. https://t.co/3uFw3HP2wV

— Karrie Webb AO (@Karrie_Webb) June 1, 2020

https://www.instagram.com/p/CA4BhHpD10A/?utm_source=ig_embed

The post Golf world speaks out on George Floyd protests appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.