CNN
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Breakaway excursions, first-time main winners, the return of Tiger Woods; 2022 was a seismic 12 months for a lot of golfers.
However few golfers had a season as life-altering life as Danielle Kang’s.
The American couldn’t have had a greater begin, clinching her sixth LPGA Tour title on the first occasion on the calendar, the Hilton Grand Holidays Event of Champions. Days later, she completed only one stroke behind winner Lydia Ko on the Gainbridge LPGA.
Come April although, she had withdrawn from a number of occasions citing again ache. On the US Ladies’s Open in June, deeper causes emerged: Kang revealed she had been enjoying the event with a tumor on her backbone and can be taking a break from the game.
It was a analysis she had recognized since withdrawing from the LOTTE Championship in Hawaii earlier, however she had not wished to publicize it.
The one-time main winner made her aggressive return in late August, shaking off the rust to earn a good tied-Seventeenth end on the CP Ladies’s Open in Canada. Since then, Kang has eight extra occasions and a number of spectacular shows – together with three top-10 finishes – beneath her belt.
A “monumental” 2022 appears a very long time in the past now, and the 30-year-old is blissful to maintain it that manner.
“That was type of the final 12 months of the twenties and I’m actually, actually glad to depart it behind,” Kang instructed CNN. “I really feel that I’m going to be taught new issues and uncover myself once more within the thirties.
“Final 12 months was an enormous momentum swap for me and I’m really type of glad every little thing that’s occurred occurred – the best way I gained originally of the 12 months, the best way I completed out the 12 months, the best way I contended, coming again stronger than I assumed I’d.
“It was a really attention-grabbing 12 months, very up and down, however I type of desire a bit extra consistency this 12 months and I feel that’s what I’m striving for. I’m feeling nice.”
In 2023, Kang is again firing on all cylinders – simply ask Max Homa. Contemporary off his sixth PGA Tour victory on the Farmers Insurance coverage Open in January, the lads’s World No.8 took goal at Kang, having simply drawn degree together with her on titles.
“Shoutout to Danielle Kang … she stated I have to catch as much as her,” Homa instructed reporters.
“She’s obtained six (wins) and a significant. I obtained six now, so I’m coming DK.”
However beneath the jabs, it’s all love between the 2 pals.
“He’s an important dude … it’s a pleasant rivalry,” Kang stated.
“I need him to play one of the best that he can play. He’s all the time been very supportive of ladies’s golf and I actually admire that.”
Homa stars in Netflix’s “Full Swing,” a brand new fly-on-the-wall type docuseries that follows most of the high gamers on the PGA Tour. Detached to actuality reveals, Kang just isn’t significantly jealous of her good friend’s new-found TV stardom, however understands the recognition of comparable sequence which have boomed within the wake of Netflix’s Method One centered “Drive to Survive.”
“I feel it’s all the time intriguing to see behind the scenes, particularly the place you’re simply curious … the fact present works for a purpose,” Kang stated.
“I’m not an enormous fan, however I’m certain the followers get to see behind the scenes lots of issues that they don’t (usually) get to see. So I feel it’ll be common for a sure demographic, however I’m type of simply, ‘no matter floats your boat.’”
LPGA Danielle Kang on the loss of life of her father and Tokyo 2020
Contending on the 5 majors is a key aim for Kang this season, because the World No.17 appears so as to add to her PGA Championship victory in 2017.
A one-shot victory over Brooke Henderson in Illinois secured the then-24-year-old a significant title and her first skilled win on her 144th LPGA begin. Kang has since added 5 additional LPGA titles but regardless of 4 top-six finishes, one other main triumph has to date proved elusive.
However there may be additionally the added pleasure of a looming Solheim Cup. Teeing off at Finca Cortesin in Spain in September, the 18th version of the biennial staff occasion represents – like the lads’s Ryder Cup counterpart – the head of the ladies’s sport.
And Kang has each intention of creating the roster of US captain Stacy Lewis, in search of to avenge European victory in Ohio two years in the past.
“I all the time say good golf takes care of every little thing, and for proper now I feel I’m fairly secure,” Kang stated.
“So with that stated, I can’t wait to play for Captain Lewis and I’m excited. I’ve by no means been to Spain, in order that’ll be cool.”
