Korean-American golfer looking forward to ‘fun’ week at LPGA event in S. Korea

INCHEON, Oct. 2 (Yonhap) — Before the 2018 LPGA season began, Michelle Wie made it her goal to make the U.S. team for the UL International Crown, a fledgling match play competition set to be staged in South Korea this week.

Born in Hawaii to South Korean parents, Wie knew how much fun she’d have competing before her family members at Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea in Incheon, just west of Seoul. Indeed, “fun” was Wie’s favorite word during her press conference at the tournament venue, as she switched between English and Korean to discuss the event that begins Thursday.

Michelle Wie of the United States speaks at a press conference ahead of the UL International Crown golf competition at Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea in Incheon, 40 kilometers west of Seoul, on Oct. 2, 2018. (Yonhap)

“Making the U.S. team for this event was one of my primary goals this year, because I wanted to play in South Korea,” Wie said. “It is important for me to be playing here in front of my family. I am very proud of being Korean and very proud of being American. It’s going to be fun seeing all the Korean fans and playing before my family.”

The U.S. is the defending champion of the eight-nation competition. Each country is represented by four players, selected based on their world ranking positions in early July.

Wie comes in ranked 21st, lowest on her team, behind Lexi Thompson (No. 5), Jessica Korda (No. 11) and Cristie Kerr (No. 19). Wie reached No. 13 in April, but a wrist injury that kept her sidelined for the past two months led her to fall in the rankings.

During her rehab, Wie said she had to make some adjustments to her swing “out of necessity.”

“When I started practicing, I picked up a golf club and I couldn’t swing the way I used to,” she said. “I worked with my trainer, David (Donatucci), and we just tried to figure out what position doesn’t hurt. It feels pretty good now.”