This determined sportswoman, who took up golf at age eight and is equally brilliant academically, reveals to Margie T Logarta what she enjoys doing best when away from the fairways. Grace is the returning captain of the Asian LPGA team, competing against the international LPGA team in the Lexus Cup tournament in Singapore from December 15 to 17.
What’s the routine you follow when preparing for a tournament? Do you do anything to help psyche yourself up – meditation, exercise, read?
I have a routine I use each week at a tour event. I usually practice most of the day on Tuesdays and play a practice round. On Wednesday, I play in the tournament pro-am and practice on the driving range.
I am not a person who’s big into any sort of meditation or anything like that.
How do you stay focused during a game – for example, when it’s not going the way you want it to or the crowd becomes too distracting?
When I am playing, I usually phase out the crowd and focus on my game. I’ve learned to grind through the tough times when I am struggling and feed off positive energy when I am playing well.
Your mother (Park Jinae) was a big influence in your success. Was she a “stage mother”? What role does she continue to play in your life?
My mom is great and I have been close to her my entire life.?She and my dad (Park Soon Nam) supported my golf when I was younger, and it was a huge help to have my family with me on the road. To this day, mom and I share a great relationship.
With your professional commitments, do you ever get to go on holiday, and when you do manage, must the hotel or resort have a golf course?
Since I travel so much during the year on tour, I’m not big on traveling for vacations. ?
My idea of vacation usually consists of spending time with family and friends back home in Korea, shopping and catching up over coffee.
My idea of comfort food is galbi (barbecued beef short ribs) from my father’s restaurant.
Which airline has proven memorable for you during your travels?
Singapore Airlines provides some of the best service in the world. Their employees are courteous and really tend to the needs of the passengers.
As a celebrity, it’s tough, sometimes impossible, to have a private life. Do you have one?
I try to maintain a private life as much as possible. Being a professional golfer puts me in the spotlight on the golf course, but off the golf course I can pretty much keep my time to myself.
You mentioned being on the road a lot, can you share with us your health tips?
When I am traveling on airplanes, the most important thing is to drink lots of water and stretch every couple of hours.
What are your interests besides keeping your eye on the ball?
When I am not playing golf, my favorite pasttime is shopping and catching up with friends.
Who or what has had the greatest impact on your life whether personally or as a sportsperson? Why?
My family has always been my biggest inspiration. My parents have raised a great family and been fortunate enough to be successful in the business world.?I am still learning from them every day.
What can you say is the appeal of golf courses that you’ve experienced in Asia?
Golf courses in Asia are unique specifically because of the different grass they use. They offer many different layouts which make them challenging as well.
You’ve also chalked up an excellent academic record (she attended Arizona State and graduated from Seoul’s Ewha Women’s University in 2003). If you hadn’t been so successful in golf, what other field do you think you would have gone into?
Academics are very important.? Getting a good education prepares you for life.?But one day I hope to be a mom and raise a family.
