Sung Hyun Park Bio
Sung Hyun Park is a South Korean professional golfer who plays on the U.S.-based LPGA Tour. She has captured two major championships, the 2017 U.S. Women’s Open and the 2018 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, establishing herself among the leading players of her generation. Park first reached the number one spot in the Women’s World Golf Rankings in 2017 and returned to the top of the rankings in both 2018 and 2019.
Born in Seoul and now based in Orlando, Florida, Park turned professional in 2012 and quickly built a record across both the KLPGA and LPGA Tours. Her combination of power off the tee and composure under pressure has produced multiple victories, major titles, and major individual honors within her first few seasons on the global stage.
Early Life and Background
Sung Hyun Park was born on 21 September 1993 in Seoul, South Korea. The city is a frequent birthplace for elite South Korean golfers, and Park grew up in an environment where competitive sport, and golf in particular, played a prominent role in everyday life. From an early age she was drawn to the game, spending long hours developing her swing and her course management on practice ranges and junior competitions.
South Korea’s junior golf system is known for producing technically disciplined players, and Park progressed through that pathway during her formative years. While the precise details of her schooling are not publicly documented, her rapid rise through amateur ranks suggested an early commitment to a professional career in golf. By her late teens, she was competing in high-level amateur events and preparing for the transition to professional play.
Path to Professional Golf
Park began her professional career in 2012 on the domestic circuit in South Korea. She joined the LPGA of Korea Tour (KLPGA) and used the tour as a launching pad to refine her game against established players. Her work paid off in 2015, when she recorded four victories on the KLPGA Tour, signaling that she was ready to compete at a higher level on a consistent basis.
In 2016, Park elevated her game further, capturing six titles on the KLPGA Tour in a single season. That dominant year drew the attention of international scouts and laid the groundwork for her decision to seek LPGA Tour membership. By the end of 2016, Park had established herself as one of the top players in South Korea and was prepared to test herself against the best golfers in the world.
Sung Hyun Park Career
Early Career on the KLPGA Tour (2014-2016)
After turning professional in 2012, Park spent her first full seasons developing her game and gaining experience. Her breakthrough on the KLPGA Tour came in 2015, when she won four times, demonstrating an ability to perform under pressure and to score consistently across varied course conditions.
In 2016, Park raised her level again, capturing six titles in a single season and establishing herself as the leading player on the KLPGA Tour. Her success during this period also included appearances on other regional circuits, including the Taiwan LPGA Tour, where she added a victory to her growing résumé. By the close of 2016, Park had earned ten career KLPGA Tour titles.
LPGA Tour Breakthrough (2017)
Park joined the LPGA Tour in 2017 and immediately announced herself as a contender. In July 2017, she won the U.S. Women’s Open at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, capturing her first major championship in only her rookie season on tour. The victory confirmed her status as one of the premier players in the women’s game.
In November 2017, Park reached the number one position in the Women’s World Golf Rankings, holding the top spot for one week. She then clinched the LPGA Tour Rookie of the Year Award and shared the Player of the Year honor with Ryu So-yeon, becoming the first player since Nancy Lopez in 1978 to win both awards in the same season. Park ended her rookie campaign with the U.S. Women’s Open title, the number one ranking, and a sweep of the tour’s top individual awards.
Major Success and World Number One (2018-2019)
Park built on her rookie success in 2018, recording three LPGA Tour victories, including a second major championship at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in July 2018. With that win she became a multi-major champion at a young age and demonstrated the consistency required to remain at the top of the rankings.
Park regained the number one spot in the Women’s World Golf Rankings with her victory at the Indy Women in Tech Championship in August 2018, holding the position across the following seasons. She finished 2018 ranked second in the world behind Ariya Jutanugarn and third on the LPGA Tour money list. In 2019, she added two more titles, the HSBC Women’s World Championship and the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship, reinforcing her place among the elite players of the LPGA Tour.
Notable Events and Milestones
Park’s career includes several signature achievements: her 2017 U.S. Women’s Open title in her rookie year, the historic 2017 Player and Rookie of the Year sweep, her 2018 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship victory, and multiple returns to the top of the Women’s World Golf Rankings. She also received the Best Female Golfer ESPY Award in 2018, reflecting her impact on the sport beyond the LPGA Tour.
Sung Hyun Park Career Wins
Sung Hyun Park has accumulated 18 professional victories across multiple tours, including seven LPGA Tour titles, ten KLPGA Tour titles, and one Taiwan LPGA Tour title. Two of her LPGA Tour victories have come in major championships, placing her among the most accomplished major winners in the women’s game.
LPGA Tour Highlights
Park’s first LPGA Tour win came at the 2017 U.S. Women’s Open, a major championship that served as the defining moment of her rookie season. She added her second major title at the 2018 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and captured additional tour victories at the Indy Women in Tech Championship, the HSBC Women’s World Championship, and the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship, among others. Her LPGA Tour playoff record stands at 2-0.
Other Wins and Performances
Before moving to the LPGA Tour, Park was a dominant force on the KLPGA Tour, winning ten times between 2014 and 2016, including four titles in 2015 and six in 2016. She also recorded a victory on the Taiwan LPGA Tour, underlining her competitiveness across multiple tours in Asia.
Sung Hyun Park Family
Personal Life
Sung Hyun Park maintains a relatively private personal life. She resides in Orlando, Florida, the popular home base for many LPGA Tour professionals, where she trains and prepares for the tournament season. Standing 5 feet 8 inches tall, Park has built a physical game that complements her technical precision on the course.
2025 Season Outlook
As the 2025 LPGA Tour season unfolds, Sung Hyun Park continues to compete at the highest level of women’s golf. With two major championships and seven LPGA Tour titles already on her résumé, she remains a perennial contender in the season’s biggest events, including the U.S. Women’s Open and the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.
Park’s experience in major championships and her track record of returning to the number one position in the Women’s World Golf Rankings make her a player to watch throughout the 2025 campaign. Her established consistency and proven ability to peak during major weeks position her well among the favorites in the season’s marquee tournaments.