Birdie call adds depth to Open
BY Liz White | ALPG Tour | 2008 Women's Australian Open | General | 30 Jan 2008
Australian golfing organisers could hardly believe their luck when they took a phone call from 2005 US Open winner Birdie Kim back in November last year.
The Korean was asking if she could play in the Ladies Australian Open at Melbourne’s Kingston Heath this week. Thankfully for the fans, the organisers said yes.
The inclusion of Kim has bolstered the list of notables for the tournament regarded as Australia’s Ladies Major. She will be battling it out with defending champion Karrie Webb and one of the Australian Tour’s greatest international supporters, Britain’s Laura Davies. Up and coming Aussie girls, Nikki Garrett, Sarah Kemp and Katherine Hull will round out the star attractions.
“I rang them because Kingston Heath is one of the world’s Top 25 courses, so I really wanted to play,” Kim said.
And there is no doubt Kim did want to play, it’s just that she almost didn’t make it.
Standing at the airport in New Zealand on Monday, she had already checked in her luggage for the flight to Melbourne, when officials asked her for her visa. The problem was Kim didn’t have one.
“I didn’t think I needed one but I guess I am coming here on business so I needed a visa for that,” she said.
Frustratingly for Kim, she was stranded at the airport because Monday was Australia Day and all consulate offices were closed.
“I wasted two days in New Zealand so that was not very good,” she said.
“But I am here now so I just have to worry about playing.”
Kim arrived this morning and immediately headed out to play the course. She is impressed with the Kingston Heath layout and likes her chances.
She has spent the past month in Hamilton, New Zealand with other Korean golfers honing her skills for 2008. It has left her feeling confident and ready.
“It was really good it gave me a chance to work on a few things,” she said.
Add to that, her happiness at being married for just five weeks. Her husband is pro golfer BK Lee, who plays on the Asian circuit.
“It’s been good so far, although today he watched me play and told me I am swinging it too fast,” she said.
“I think I am swinging too fast because I have had two days doing nothing and my timing is just a bit out, I will go out this afternoon and do some putting and some practice to get it right.”
Kim says the key to victory this weekend will be the second shot.
“I need to get on in regulation, that will be important,” she said.
“If I don’t I will have to think what is better, landing short or just trying to get on, I need to be very accurate.”
Kim, who changed her name from Ju to Birdie on the advice of David Leadbetter, rates Webb as the favourite to lift the trophy on Sunday.
“I would say she would be 80% if it is not me!,” she said.
“There is also Laura who is such a good player, she won last week so she will also be doing well.”
After bursting on to the scene in 2005 with a memorable victory in the US Open, Kim’s career has not taken off as fast as she would have liked.
“In 2006 I had a hard time in my life,” she said.
“I played really bad and I was just not in the right mindset, I was too serious and I would get very sad when I did not play well.”
In 2007 Kim set about improving her approach to life on the pro circuit.
“Now when I go out on the golf course I try to have fun, after I play well or bad it doesn’t make me sad now.”
There is no doubt the approach helped her game. Last year Kim had two top ten finishes on the LPGA including runner up at the Mitchell Company LPGA Tournament of Champions. The second placing helped her pass the $1 million mark in career earnings.
In 2008 the 26 year-old has her sights set on even bigger things.
“I will just try to win twice this year, that is what I want; I also want to play steady and not too much up and down golf.”
If Kim does manage to snare one of those wins this weekend one thing is for sure. If she returns to Australia to defend her title, she will be welcomed with open arms – visa permitting.
