World No. 4 Lydia Ko headlines the inaugural Simone Asia Pacific Cup in Indonesia this week. With the LPGA off, a number of star players are competing on the LET in Spain as well as the new Ladies Asian Tour in Jakarta. Ko, 25, talked about her upcoming nuptials ahead of the event.
Reports began circulating earlier this summer that Ko was engaged to boyfriend Chung Jun. In Jakarata, the former No. 1 confirmed the engagement and said a wedding wouldn’t slow down her career.
“I don’t think there will be many changes to my schedule,” Ko said in a release. “I’m really thankful for my fiancé and my family who have been super supportive. As much as I want it, they also want me to finish my career well at the time I want to.
“As a golfer and person, I’m thankful and gives me lots of motivation to work hard when I’m competing and enjoying my time off as well. Getting married is not going to change my schedule, and it’s going to remain the same.”
The New Zealand Herald reports that Chung is the son of Ted Chung, vice chairman and CEO, Hyundai Card, Hyundai Commercial.
Joining Ko in the field are fellow major winners Hyo Joo Kim, Hinako Shibuno and So Yeon Ryu. The field of 44 will compete on the Pondok Indah Golf Course in Jakarta for a $750,000 purse.
The event is part of the new Ladies Asian Tour (LAT) Series, which kicked off in June with the DB Group 36th Korea Women’s Open. The LAT Series aims to stage seven tournaments across the Asia Pacific region in 2023, with plans to expand to 10 events in 2024. The new tour was established by the Asian Golf Leaders Forum (AGLF).
“We haven’t really had the chance to play in Asia after turning professional,” said Hong Kong’s Tiffany Chan. “Everyone is either trying to play in the States, Europe or any other tour,” said Chan during the pre-tournament press conference on Tuesday.
“For myself, I did play a lot on the China Tour, Taiwan LPGA and every single Asian Tour event in all the countries. We are finally seeing women’s golf growing in Asia.”
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