In Gee Chun regained confidence at the U.S. Women’s Open, finishing fourth after returning to major championship contention 11 years after her breakthrough victory.
Chun introduced herself to the global golf stage by winning the 2015 U.S. Women’s Open. The victory was also her first LPGA Tour title, making her debut win a major championship.
Eleven years later, Chun once again entered the final round of the U.S. Women’s Open with a chance to contend for the title.
She ultimately finished fourth, but the result carried significance beyond the final ranking. Chun experienced the pressure of competing near the top of a major leaderboard for the first time in years and left the tournament with renewed confidence.
“There are some things I wish had gone better, but it had been a very long time since I played under this kind of pressure and in this kind of situation,” Chun said after the tournament. “I gained a lot of confidence throughout the round.”
Reflecting on her return to contention 11 years after her championship, Chun joked about how much time had passed.
“I thought, ‘It really has been a long time,’” she said. “I was so young back then, and my cheeks were much fuller.”
Her mindset, however, has not changed significantly.
“Other than gaining a lot of experience over the years, I do not feel that different,” Chun said. “Physically and mentally, I still feel as though I am in my 20s.”
One of the most memorable moments of Chun’s final round came on the par-4 seventh hole, where she made a chip-in birdie from about 20 meters in front of the green.
Chun said her approach shots had been strong recently, but none had fallen directly into the hole. Before the shot, she told herself it was time for one to finally go in.
“The ball landed exactly where I wanted it to and went straight into the hole,” she said. “So many spectators around the course cheered and applauded together. It was a shot that gave me chills as well.”
Now in her 15th professional season, Chun described her relationship with golf as emotionally complicated.
“Some years, I loved it. Some years, I hated it. At other times, it was a love-hate relationship,” she said. “Recently, however, I have realized again that I like golf much more than I thought.”
She added that she now celebrates training achievements with an enthusiasm that can sometimes exceed that of younger players.
“When I reach a training goal, I get so excited that it is almost embarrassing compared with the younger players,” Chun said.
Chun’s goals for the remainder of the season are focused more on the process than on immediate results.
Her performance at the U.S. Women’s Open reassured her that she is moving in the right direction, and she plans to continue building on that progress.
“I believe in what I am doing,” Chun said. “As I make those things more fully my own and continue doing them well, I believe the results will follow.”
She said she hopes to compete with greater freedom and confidence on the course.
“I want this to be a year in which I can carry out what I want to do more comfortably and confidently and manage my game that way,” Chun said.
Chun also credited Korean American fans for providing encouragement throughout the tournament.
“The cheers I heard around the course were enough to make me smile,” she said. “I am grateful to the Korean American fans who gave me strength throughout the entire week.”
Chun will take one week off before competing in the Meijer LPGA Classic in Michigan from June 18 through June 21.
