Winning the 2008 U.S. Women's Open at Interlachen Country Club at age 19 established Inbee Park as the youngest player to ever secure that title. This South Korean professional golfer, born in Seoul in 1988, subsequently ascended to become the world number one ranked player across four distinct periods between 2013 and 2018.
Amateur Development
Park began playing golf at age 10. By age 12, she relocated to the United States to advance her career. Her formative years included five Rolex Junior All-American honors and nine American Junior Golf Association event wins. She reached the semifinals of the 2003 U.S. Women's Amateur and achieved victory at the 2002 U.S. Girls' Junior, adding runner-up finishes in the same tournament during 2003 and 2005.
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After graduating from Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Park sought early entry to the LPGA Tour. Following a denial, she briefly attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, before turning professional to compete on the Duramed Futures Tour in 2006. With 11 top-10 finishes that year, she secured exempt status for the 2007 LPGA season by placing third on the money list.
Major Championship Dominance
Park earned seven major championships throughout her career. Her 2013 season performance included three consecutive major victories, a feat previously matched only by Babe Zaharias in 1950. She stands as the seventh player to complete a career Grand Slam. Additionally, she matched Annika Sorenstam by winning the Women's PGA Championship for three consecutive years.
Global Achievement
In 2016, Park captured the first Olympic gold medal in the women's individual golf tournament since 1900. Her professional success spans the LPGA Tour and the LPGA of Japan Tour, including victories at the Honda LPGA Thailand, the North Texas LPGA Shootout, and the Manulife Financial LPGA Classic. She maintains endorsement partnerships with KB Financial Group, Srixon, Panasonic, Lynx, Jeju Samdasoo, and Mercedes-Benz.
Fast facts
- Born: 1988, Seoul, South Korea
- Education: Bishop Gorman High School, Kwangwoon University
- Professional Debut: 2006
- Major Championship Wins: 7
- Olympic Medal: Gold, 2016
- Language: Korean
Questions readers ask
How many times did Inbee Park reach world number one?
She held the number one ranking in the Women's World Golf Rankings for four separate intervals between 2013 and 2018.
What record did she set at the 2008 U.S. Women's Open?
At age 19, she became the youngest player to win the U.S. Women's Open.
