Profile of Sung-hyun Park: South Korea’s Women’s Golf Champion

Sung-hyun Park is a South Korean golfer who has carved out an impressive legacy on the international stage. With seven LPGA Tour victories, including two major championships, and having once reached world number one, she stands as one of the modern icons of Asian women’s golf.

Although her performance declined in 2025, Park’s career journey remains deeply inspiring. From her dominant success on the KLPGA Tour, her sensational LPGA debut crowned by a major title, to her recognition as Rookie of the Year, Park exemplifies the true meaning of hard work and dedication.

Today, Park’s main challenge lies in rediscovering her best rhythm and competing against a new generation of elite women golfers. Regardless of what the future holds, her name is already etched in history as one of the greatest golfers South Korea has ever produced on the world stage. Below is the full profile from GoGolf.

Brief Profile of Sung-hyun Park

Sung-hyun Park—internationally known as Sung Hyun Park—was born on September 21, 1993, in Seoul, South Korea. Her name rose to prominence when she entered the international professional golf scene and immediately delivered outstanding results. Park is widely recognized for her aggressive playing style, powerful swing, and steel-like mental strength under competitive pressure. These traits helped establish her as one of South Korea’s most successful women golfers on the global stage.

Park turned professional in 2012 and later joined the LPGA Tour in 2017. From her arrival, she was regarded as part of South Korea’s “golden generation” of golfers—players capable of competing head-to-head with top athletes from the United States, Japan, and other Asian countries. Her career reached a major milestone when she won the 2017 U.S. Women’s Open, a victory that marked a stunning breakthrough in her rookie season on the LPGA Tour.

In the same year, Park briefly ascended to world number one in the Women’s World Golf Rankings, making her one of the most phenomenal rookies in LPGA history. She became the first rookie since Nancy Lopez in 1978 to win LPGA Rookie of the Year while also sharing the LPGA Player of the Year title in the same season. This extraordinary achievement instantly placed her among the elite ranks of women’s golf.

Physically, Park is also known for her athletic build and exceptional driving distance, allowing her to compete effectively on long and demanding courses. Her ability to manage pressure—especially in major championships—has been one of the defining factors behind her success.

As of 2025, although her performance has declined compared to her peak years, Park is still remembered as a golfer who recorded seven LPGA Tour victories, including two majors. Her dedication and career résumé firmly establish her as one of the greatest golfers ever produced by South Korea.

Sung-hyun Park’s Career Achievements

Before competing in the United States, Sung-hyun Park honed her skills on the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour. Between 2014 and 2016, she recorded a total of 10 victories, highlighted by a dominant 2016 season in which she won six tournaments. This period of dominance drew widespread attention and paved the way for her transition to the LPGA Tour in the United States.

In 2017, Park delivered a spectacular performance on the global stage. She captured the U.S. Women’s Open, one of the most prestigious major championships in women’s golf. This victory not only validated her readiness to compete at the highest level but also solidified her status as one of South Korea’s finest golfing talents.

Her success did not stop there. In the same season, she earned LPGA Rookie of the Year honors and shared the LPGA Player of the Year award with Ryu So-yeon. This made her the first golfer in four decades to achieve both accolades in her rookie season—an achievement that underscored her extraordinary impact on the tour.

In 2018, Park continued her remarkable run by winning the Women’s PGA Championship, securing her second major title. That year, she also claimed victories at notable events such as the Volunteers of America LPGA Texas Classic and the Indy Women in Tech Championship.

The 2019 season proved equally solid, as Park won the HSBC Women’s World Championship and the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship. These victories helped her reclaim the world number one ranking on multiple occasions, demonstrating her continued consistency at the highest level.

Overall, Sung-hyun Park’s career achievements include:

• Two major championships: U.S. Women’s Open (2017) and Women’s PGA Championship (2018)
• Seven LPGA Tour victories, alongside additional non-major wins
• Ten KLPGA Tour victories, which laid the foundation for her international success
• Prestigious honors such as LPGA Rookie of the Year 2017 and LPGA Player of the Year 2017

These accomplishments confirm that Park once stood at the pinnacle of women’s golf and left a lasting mark on LPGA history.

Latest Career Statistics (2025)

Entering 2025, Sung-hyun Park’s performance declined compared to her peak years in the late 2010s. During the season, she competed in more than 14 LPGA tournaments, but often struggled to break into contention. She recorded several missed cuts, with her best finish being T29 at the ShopRite LPGA Classic.

Her total official earnings for the 2025 season stood at approximately $94,900, a stark contrast to her prime years when she earned millions of dollars in a single season. Currently, her position in the Race to the CME Globe sits around 113th, indicating the need for a significant turnaround if she hopes to return to the elite tier.

Nevertheless, Park remains a respected figure due to her reputation and past achievements. Fans and analysts alike continue to believe she has the potential to rediscover her form. As with many professional golfers, performance naturally fluctuates, but Park’s technical skill and mental foundation remain unquestioned.

Interestingly, despite her declining results, Park has maintained her signature playing style. Her long driving ability remains a strength, although improvements in accuracy and putting consistency are needed. Should she address these areas effectively, the door to future victories could still reopen.

Sung-hyun Park’s LPGA Ranking

Sung-hyun Park experienced the pinnacle of success when she became world number one in the Women’s World Golf Rankings during 2017, 2018, and 2019. This achievement confirmed her status as one of the most dominant players in women’s golf during that era.

By 2025, however, her ranking has dropped significantly compared to her prime years. In the 2025 Race to the CME Globe, she is positioned around 113th, and in the global rankings (WWGR), she no longer sits within the top 50. This decline is largely due to reduced consistency and increased competition from a new generation of young golfers.

Even so, Park’s historical achievements remain undeniable:

• Former world number one across multiple periods
• The first rookie to reach world number one
• Seven LPGA Tour victories, including two major championships
• Outstanding dominance on the KLPGA Tour prior to her LPGA career

Park’s ranking decline can be viewed as a natural phase in a professional athlete’s career. Many analysts believe that if she maintains physical fitness, adapts her playing strategy, and manages mental pressure more effectively, her chances of returning to the top ranks remain open.