Third-ranked Park drops out of US Women’s Open

New York (AFP) – Seven-time major winner Park In-Bee, the world number three from South Korea, withdrew from next month’s US Women’s Open on Wednesday with a nagging left thumb injury.

Park withdrew from the July 7-10 event at CordeValle in San Martin, California, after pulling out following the first round from two events last month because of the injury. 

She also missed the cut earlier this month at the second women’s major, the Women’s PGA Championship.

The 27-year-old from Seoul won the Women’s PGA, formerly the LPGA Championship, the past three years, took the US Women’s Open in 2008 and 2013, captured the ANA Inspiration in 2013 and the Women’s British Open last year.

Her chance to defend in Britain, if she heals in time to compete, will come July 28-31 at Woburn in England.

Replacing Park in the US Women’s Open field will be 17-year-old amateur Zhang Yunjie of China. She was first alternate from the China qualifying site and will make her US Women’s Open debut.

Because no non-exempt players won LPGA events between last year’s US Women’s Open and the May 4 entry deadline, organizers added to the field England’s Hannah Burke, the first alternate from the England qualifier. Burke, 28, plays on the Ladies European Tour and will also make her US Women’s Open debut.