by alexandra
i believe that korean women are "dominating" the sport presently for a couple of reasons. The korean culture plays a major part. All parents globally consider it a basic parental right to lead their child to success, however korean parents may have advantageous motivating factors. In south korea, there are fewer spots to enter college, compared to the american counterparts. Education in south korea is paramount, education leads to job security, class elevation through marriage and social networking, all equating to money, marriage, and higher national fullfillment. Well, when korean parents see golf on tv or begin playing it for recreation, some fall in love with the sport. And typical of korean parents, they have this insatisble desire to pour the love of succeeding into their children. Korean parents typically sacrifice themselves, and boldly lead their children to success. However if korean children aren't sacrificing to play golf, then they will be sacrificing in piano, in hard manual, etc... To koreans sacrificing is a non-issue. The issue is "will my child discipline her talent in golf that brings prestige to country, family, and then to herself; or discipline her talent in a job that her parents generation already sacrificed for?

by JB
Please say things that make sense... if its the way of the parents..why arent all the koreans quitting school to win every gold medal in the Olympics? Also explain why Korean men arent that succesful in PGA. LOL. Just Anthony Kim and K.J. Choi.

by Alain Lam
One thing the world should know that Korean man has to do their military service for 2-3 years i think. So, it makes a break in their golf career.

by alexandra
i believe that korean parents and korean society place great expectation on male children to secure traditional route of success through the university, traditional careers post-graduation and golf is a non-traditional way. In addition, all males attend mandatory military training for three years, even if it breaks the tempo of a golfing career, piano career, or higher education. Imagine Tiger Woods breaking practice for three years in his early twenties, while his competitors continue practicing. Then culturally, korean parents expect their daughters to succeed in education, in career, only until they marry and are expected to quit their jobs to raise the next generation of children. For korean parents to focus on their daughters in golf, while their sons are in the army is not favoritism but situational. Because after all, what a great sport to play at an international level. And yes there are always exceptions to the rule!

by Kevin C
For want of a better explanation, I will accept Jennifer Mario's explanation of why Korean women excell on the LPGA tour with just a home population of 45 million as a demographic pool. As a comparison, the Dominican Republic has more major leaguers per capita than any other country playing baseball. Why? Early identification of talent and a "support" system that raises their game as a means to escape poverty. We have nothing comparable on a national basis for golf. Look at what Sweden does with a small population base and inhospitible weather with their national golf program. I for one find the Korean girls as attractive as any other nationality on the LPGA and love their fluid swings.

by Clint Chang
A lot of people ask why the Korean women are having success but the men aren't. I think the big reason is that you cannot compare the talent pool in the PGA vs. the LPGA. If anything, I think this shows how considerably weaker the talent pool in the LPGA is. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of outstanding players on the LPGA, but the fact that it's so easy for 16 year olds to win (Korean or not) tournaments and even majors shows that the existing competition out there is just not that great.
Men's golf is just so much more competitive worldwide that it's so much harder to break in, let alone win.

by Scott KIM
First of all, I would like to say that I'm Korean. Although much of this article doesnt portray Korean parents positively, the Korean mindset is without a doubt "all or nothing"; consequently, Korean parents tend to drive their kids to the "all" portion of the statement. However, I would like to say that Korean kids (especially first generation Korean-Americans) often times feel as though the forceful attempt in the kids' childhood was not necessary. After all, we don't know what is going to happen in the future, so why should we waste our childhoods? Balance is the key to everything, and that's the concept Korean parents have not grasped yet.

by Jimin
Scott, grow up and get some therapy.

by binky
actually scott is onto something there.
And he is correct. My experience caddying
for korean nationals is really that few
families have access to the limited golf
courses and the driving ranges are loaded
with korean men...honing their skills..
the really good korean players have been
playing in australia and living with other
korean host families and trying their lot
in the u.s.a. A very common pathway for
korean women has been to go to schools like pepperdine and play 1-3 years before
turning pro..either futures tour or klpga
or other tours.

by Jessica Lipz
I have a comment, and try to not take this as a xenophobic remark. I am just going to relate what I have witnessed. My husband and our friends all watch golf, PGA, LPGA, and Seniors. Without a doubt, the guys enjoy women's golf, but they lose interest so fast when the final two, or four, or three of the four, groups in the final round, are mostly Korean, due to their, and I quote, lack of a personality. Who really cares if Seon Hwa Lee wins or not, we don't know her, and the vacant emotions leave the TV audience begging for something more. So, it ends up that the announcers "fill", and that just makes it more obvious and worse. Many do not speak English, so who knows what is going on. I can say, give me Sergio Garcia ANYDAY over the calm, somewhat cold, and bland personalities of the Koreans on the LPGA tour. They are great golfers to be on the tour, but Jan Stephenson said it years ago, not nicely I guess, but kind of right on. They are killing the LPGA tours excitement. Give us more Kerr, Creamer, Inkster, Davies and Pressel. Not racist, just a viewers choice. But what can be done? Limit the number on tour? Tell us.