Sung Hyun Park struggled to a missed lower on the U.S. Women’s Open, however it did not dampen the spirits of her rabid fan membership.
Josh Sens
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — The shout rang out from behind the first tee, as clear as a cry of “mashed potatoes!” Except that the phrase was in Korean, and it was not a reference to a starchy steakhouse aspect.
“Namdalla!” Eun Sun Kim shouted once more.
An in any other case soft-spoken, self-described “mother and housewife,” she wore fashionable shades, a solar hat and a snug-fitting blue sweater, not like the gaggle of girls standing together with her, all sporting pink jackets with the letters NDL, brief for “namdalla,” emblazoned on again. They screamed “namdalla,” too, a refrain of help for an out-of-form participant within the 1:18 p.m. group, within the second spherical of the U.S. Women’s Open at Pebble Beach.
Namdalla interprets to “I am different.” It’s additionally the nickname of Sung Hyun Park, two-time main champion, former No. 1 feminine golfer on the planet, and object of a cultish adoration in Korea that verges on the love afforded Ok-pop stars. That Park’s play has declined steeply since her 2017-18 peak — she hasn’t gained in 4 years and her Rolex rating has plunged to 226 — has achieved little to dampen the fervor of her followers. When she performs in Korea, cries of “namdalla” name for noise-cancelling headphones. In this nation, the echoes are fainter, however they filter by the air at far-flung venues, because of devoted followers like Eun Sun Kim.
She’d arrived in California from Seoul on Wednesday, and confirmed up at Pebble simply previous dawn on Thursday to observe Park go off at 7:22 a.m.
“Namdalla!” Kim had shouted. It was no use.
Park bogeyed her first gap of the event, a grim indicator of the seven-over par 79 that she would card. The entire day was a slog, however Kim and her fellow Namdalla-shouters caught with Park for all 18, cheering — or groaning — with each shot.
What impressed such devotion was laborious for Kim to say. She’s a golfer herself, with a handicap of 18, and a fan of the professional recreation, however she’d by no means fallen head over heels for any participant till 2016, when Park started to hit her stride. Maybe it was as a result of Kim’s two kids have been now grown, and she or he wanted one thing new to occupy her time. Or perhaps she simply appreciated Park’s fluid, upright swing, with an easy transfer that produced a lot energy.
Josh Sens
Whatever the case, it was in all probability not the power of Park’s character. Shy with the press, reserved with fellow execs, Park was as soon as described by a famous sportswriter as making “Ben Hogan look gregarious.”
“I don’t know,” Kim mentioned. “I could just tell she had a good heart.”
In Korea, when Park was enjoying her greatest, Kim grew to become a common within the crowd. Nor was she was averse to worldwide journey. In 2019, she tracked Park to 2 worldwide occasions, one in France and one in Florida.
Soon after, Park’s recreation faltered, however not Kim’s fondness for her. When Pebble got here alongside, it was too good to move up.
“I wanted to support her in this beautiful place,” Kim mentioned.
Friday dawned cloudy however Kim’s outlook was hopeful. She’d turned up on the course together with her Park-fanatic good friend Mim Sun Cho, who’d additionally made the journey from Seoul. Fan membership members have a approach of coalescing wherever they journey, and shortly the 2 have been joined by 12 others of their type, all with the initialized jackets to show it. Some had Park’s moniker stitched into their caps.
Park cut up the golf green together with her opening shot, however the first 4 holes at Pebble are the place the professionals make hay, and Park was regular however unspectacular on them, enjoying them at par earlier than back-to-back bogeys on 5 and 6. Park’s shoulders slumped as she walked to No. 7.
“Namdalla!” somebody shouted, although the tone had a trace of desperation.
“Our hearts are all hurting,” Kim mentioned.
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Rough days on the course have the arc of a gradual dying. Anger and denial give technique to disappointment, which shifts to resignation and, lastly, acceptance. Park’s spherical dragged on, and Kim and Co. marched together with her, calling out their trademark exhortation.
Namdalla. Namdalla. Namdalla. Now extra a chorus than a rallying cry.
Park bogeyed the ninth. And the eleventh to drop to 11 over for the occasion. There was no hope for the weekend when she reached the 18th tee, almost six hours since her day had began.
The solar was low. Mist blew in off the coast. Three full pictures and a chip, and Park was on the inexperienced, with a four-footer for par, which she lipped out. Bogey.
“A very difficult day,” Kim mentioned. “No birdies. Not even close.”
Still, she was smiling. She knew what was coming. Park ducked into the scorer’s tent and, moments later, emerged and strode immediately towards Kim and her crowd. Hugs. Bows. Photos.
“It is hard for me to express in words how much this support means to me,” Park mentioned by a translator. With one ultimate bow, she walked away.
Kim watched her go.
“I will come back Sunday to watch the final round,” she mentioned. “Tomorrow, though, I will sleep in.”
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