The dominant Korean players in women’s professional golf, such as Inbee Park, Sei Young Kim, Hyo-Joo Kim and So Yeon Ryu, are generally known for their ice-cool demeanours on the course, but recent winner Ha Na Jang is breaking the mould by letting her big personality shine through.
Ha Na Jang wrapped up her first career victory at the Coates Golf Championship a fortnight ago with a ‘samurai sword’ celebration that went viral.
At a press conference ahead of the ISPS HANDA Women’s Australian Open, Jang told how she has been building up her exuberant image since she was a youngster.
“My first tournament start, maybe 12 years ago, I played Korean Open so I try like this (fist pumps) and then galleries are really fun, then big claps, so I’m like, `Oh, this is nice’,” Jang remembered. “So this is my character and my image so I try like this (bigger fist pump) and then I’m always watching TV like Tiger (Woods) and Christina Kim and then other fun players like John Daly … and it looks like very fun and a little different style so I try it for my character.”
Jang’s personality will be on full display again as she competes on The Grange’s West Course in Adelaide this week.
“I like this area,” Jang said. “The golf course really tough, I think it’s a really tough golf course because it’s really narrow and then very difficult the bunker shots and then the greens are really fast.”
The world’s ninth ranked player has plenty of energy left in the tank after her victory despite crossing the continents and hopes to carry her winning form from Florida.
“My name is Ha Na Jang, you say like “En-er-giser”, right. Ha Na Jang is “Ha-Na-giser”, so no problem.”
