INCHEON, SOUTH KOREA | You knew they were coming long before you saw them. When the four players representing South Korea walked out of the clubhouse at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea at 7:25 on Tuesday morning for team photos, fans swarmed like bees, obscuring So Yeon Ryu, Sung Hyun Park, I.K. Kim and In Gee Chun from sight. People cheered, snapped photos and rushed forward with Sharpies and caps in hand in the hopes of getting one selfie or a quick scribble.
By the time the sun tiptoed above the buildings in the background, hundreds of fans were either behind the range or lining the first tee to see Team South Korea. On a Tuesday. Fully 48 hours before the first competitive shot would be struck.
Chun and Ryu played the first four holes of their practice round as a twosome. Every shot elicited shouts or groans, even when players were intentionally playing away from flags. Park and Kim joined them on the par-3 fifth along with a doubling of the already large gallery. Park’s fans are hard to miss. They wear black and bling and have a series of chants and songs that would make clownishly-clad Europeans at the Ryder Cup bow their heads in respect.
