Staff WriterSung Hyun Park turned the Aramco Korea Championship into her own mini-comeback party on Friday, firing a buoyant four-under-par 68 at New Korea Country Club and vaulting safely inside the cut line.
For Sung Hyun Park, the eruption from her famously devoted fan club, Namdalla, sounded less like polite applause and more like a stadium crowd welcoming its champion home.
A vintage spark from a former No. 1
Ranked 740th in the world but still armed with the résumé of a giant—two major titles, seven LPGA wins and ten more on the KLPGA—Park reminded everyone why her swing once sat atop the rankings.
A cold, blustery morning had most of the field muttering, yet Park walked off with a grin as wide as the Han River.
Fans on overdrive
“Absolutely – especially on a day like today, their support meant a lot. Even yesterday when things weren’t going my way, the fans kept cheering for me until the end, helping me stay focused. I think that’s why I was able to play even better today.
“The round went well. The course conditions were much better than the first round, which allowed me to make more birdies. It felt like I was finally able to play a solid and steady round after a while.”
The cheers echoed from the first tee to the 18th green, and every fist-pump felt like vintage 2018. Park’s irons were dialled in, her putter answered every question, and by sunset she was thinking about more than just a respectable finish.
Calculated aggression pays off
“Today, my plan was to play more conservatively and avoid unnecessary risks. Fortunately, my putting was really solid, which helped me make a lot of birdies.
“There’s just one round left, so I want to keep the rhythm I had today and stay focused. Rather than trying to do too much, I’ll focus on taking it one shot at a time.”
The strategy was classic Park—aggressive enough to score but disciplined enough to sidestep the big number. Four birdies, zero bogeys, and a gallery that refused to sit down all afternoon.
Eyeing her first win since 2019
With only one round remaining, Park is in touch with the leaders and chasing a first victory in six seasons.
A win here would mark her first worldwide title since 2019 and ignite a storyline the LPGA hasn’t enjoyed in a while: the prodigal star returning to the winner’s circle on home soil.
How to watch
The Aramco Korea Championship is the second stop on the 2025 PIF Global Series, and tickets for the final-round shootout are still available at aramco-korea.tixr.com.
If Park keeps rolling the rock the way she did in round two, expect New Korea Country Club to sound more like a rock concert than a golf course.
