Selection committee to make final decision in December

Park was inducted into LPGA Hall of Fame in 2016

South Korean golf legend Park In-bee [Getty Images]
South Korean golf legend Park In-bee [Getty Images]

Park In-bee, the South Korean golf legend who achieved a career Grand Slam and an Olympic gold medal, has been named a finalist for the 2027 World Golf Hall of Fame.

The World Golf Hall of Fame announced 14 finalists for the 2027 class. AFP reported Tuesday that Park was included among the women's player candidates alongside Cristie Kerr, Dottie Pepper of the United States and Liselotte Neumann of Sweden.

In the men's player category, Justin Rose of England, Adam Scott of Australia, Jim Furyk and Corey Pavin of the United States were nominated. Including the historic/amateur and contributor categories, the total number of finalists stands at 14.

Park won seven major titles on the LPGA Tour. She claimed the US Women's Open in 2008 and 2013, the Nabisco Championship (now the Chevron Championship) in 2013, the LPGA Championship (now the KPMG Women's PGA Championship) from 2013 to 2015, and the Ricoh Women's British Open (now the AIG Women's Open) in 2015. By winning four different majors, she completed the career Grand Slam.

At the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, she won the gold medal in women's golf, which had returned to the Olympic program for the first time in 116 years. Having added an Olympic gold to her career Grand Slam, Park was also inducted into the LPGA Hall of Fame that same year.

Induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame is decided by a vote of a 24-member selection committee. A candidate must receive at least 75 percent approval — a minimum of 18 votes — to be inducted.

The inductees will be announced in December. The induction ceremony is scheduled for July 12, 2027 (local time) in St. Andrews, Scotland, timed to coincide with The Open Championship week.


yjc@heraldcorp.com