After a glittering career at USC and in her Rookie year of professional golf, Annie Park graduated to the LPGA looking to build on her success. She won 4 - times in her freshman year, including the NCAA Div I Individual Championship while leading her USC Trojans to the NCAA National Title,. In her first year as a professional, she won 3-times on the Symetra Tour, earning Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year all while finishing the year as the top player.
That's when adversity struck -- Annie was eventually diagnosed with a form of thyroid cancer, leading to the removal of her thyroid gland and a lifelong regimen of medication. If that wasn't enough to contend with, then, it was a persistent and nagging back injury that nearly sidelined her career before it even really started.
With her characteristic understatement, stoicism, and grace, Annie Park shares her story on how she went from NCAA Division 1 star to nearly quitting golf entirely. A timely intervention from her sister and another friend helped her reassess her life on the course and off. Faced with having lost her card on tour, Annie had to "Monday qualify" for LPGA events, eventually resulting in her first LPGA win (2018 ShopRite LPGA Classic) and representing her country at the Solheim Cup (2019 Gleneagles).
Join us in this episode as we explore Annie's career in golf and the lifelong lessons that she has drawn from the sport.
After a glittering career at USC and in her Rookie year of professional golf, Annie Park graduated to the LPGA looking to build on her success. She won 4 - times in her freshman year, including the NCAA Div I Individual Championship while leading her USC Trojans to the NCAA National Title,. In her first year as a professional, she won 3-times on the Symetra Tour, earning Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year all while finishing the year as the top player.
That's when adversity struck -- Annie was eventually diagnosed with a form of thyroid cancer, leading to the removal of her thyroid gland and a lifelong regimen of medication. If that wasn't enough to contend with, then, it was a persistent and nagging back injury that nearly sidelined her career before it even really started.
With her characteristic understatement, stoicism, and grace, Annie Park shares her story on how she went from NCAA Division 1 star to nearly quitting golf entirely. A timely intervention from her sister and another friend helped her reassess her life on the course and off. Faced with having lost her card on tour, Annie had to "Monday qualify" for LPGA events, eventually resulting in her first LPGA win (2018 ShopRite LPGA Classic) and representing her country at the Solheim Cup (2019 Gleneagles).
Join us in this episode as we explore Annie's career in golf and the lifelong lessons that she has drawn from the sport.
Hello and good afternoon. Welcome to our podcast show. We're talking golf. Our show is produced by the world of golf, and I'm your host Douglas Maida. Today's show is another in our series looking at women's professional golf from around the world. In this series, we usually select a country from around the world and speak with some of the professionals and aspiring professionals about the sport of golf, and how it is developing in their home countries. Now, of course, we also discuss their chosen path on becoming a professional player. Our focus today though, is on a player from the United States, Annie Park an LPGA player since 2016. As the United States is a country that has been involved with golf for well over 100 years, we're not going to take the time to talk too much about the development of the sport in the United States. Instead, we're going to focus on Annie, her career, and some of the experiences that she has to share with us about life as a professional player. Now before we get to our guest, we will take a short break for a message from our producers and sponsors Hi, we're back. Thank you very much for staying with us. Now without further delay, let's get to our guest. Annie Park is a player on the LPGA Tour. She's originally from Levittown, New York. And after a glittering Junior Golf career, she went to USC, the University of Southern California on an athletic scholarship. In her freshman year at USC, Annie had a spectacular season, winning four times that year, including winning the NCAA championships as the individual champion, and then in leading her USC Trojans to a national title. She also went on that year to win the Honda Award as the top athlete in Division One Golf in 2014. She was also a member of the winning U.S. Curtis Cup team in 2015, and she joined the Symetra Tour after giving up her college career and amateur status. In her rookie year, she finished first on the Symetra Tour's Volvik Race for the Card money list, earning automatic LPGA membership. She also won three events that year, with four total top 10s in 11 starts and she earned Symetra Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year honors. Annie played on the LPGA Tour in 2016 and has since won her first event at the 2018 ShopRite LPGA Classic in Galloway, New Jersey. In 2019. She was a member of the U.S. Solheim Cup team. And to date she has earned $1.4 million in career earnings on tour. Welcome to the show. Annie.
Annie Park:Thank you. Thank you for so much for having me.
Douglas Maida:Oh, it's our pleasure. Our pleasure, for sure. Annie. Let's chat a little bit about your 2021 Season 2020 21 Season. As I've mentioned in my introduction, you've had a really good career at college on symetra tour. And then you came into 2016 - 17 with a good . . . followed that up with a good 2018 and 19 the Solheim cup and your first victory and whatnot? How was it making that transition? I mean, were you coming into 2020 all excited and pumped about building on on your successes at that time?
Annie Park:Yeah, for sure. I played the the Tournament of Champions in January. And, you know, I had a great, great finish on that tournament and then decided not to play the Australia event but was excited to play the Thailand and Singapore event. And the case, the case has started to break outbreak you know, globally and more so in the US. And so yeah, it was definitely crazy that You know, we had a little hiatus on our tour, because of COVID. But at the same time, I know kind of enjoyed being at home at the same time, like, I never really got to spend that much time. And, you know, found some, you know, hobbies to kill, time to kill and actually played a lot of golf was the only thing that we were able to do. And I mean, the golf courses were busy during COVID. But we, you know, living in Orlando at the time, you know, there's a bunch of players, and we were getting together to play some golf, play some friendly matches out there. And, yeah, I mean, I kind of enjoyed my time off a little bit. And then when we started to get back on tour again, it was fun, too. But, you know, as a player, we never get that chance to take a break. And, you know, it was kind of like, what do we do? You know, like we have all this time now. So, yeah,
Douglas Maida:So in a regular season, you're normally gonna have a much busier schedule. So you're going to look at week by week, planning out your events, and trying to get yourself ready for certain events of the year. Was it a big challenge? A big adjustment for you, when all of a sudden you had three weeks after -- pardon me -- Three months, three to four months of not playing?
Annie Park:Ah, yes and no. Yes. Just because like, you know, it was my my fifth year on tour at that point, and I was just so used to the travel and I guess like when you have that downtime, you start reflecting back on, you know, how hectic your travels were. I think that's kind of the biggest difference is I didn't know how crazy we traveled so much. And then having that three months off, it was like wow, like, we did travel a lot. And then now we have all this this time. And I say no, just because I still played a lot of golf during that But I also picked up other hobbies I thought I'd never time off. would have picked up like you know, fishing. Playing fortnight-- like I never thought I was a gamer and this is like my gaming headset (wearing). So started playing Fortnight and then bought a guitar that was kind of like my, the top priority of like Hobby list that I kind of created for a long time and never just decided to never get out guitar and finally pulled the trigger during COVID, so yeah.
Douglas Maida:Oh, okay. Fishing. Where did you fish -- ocean or?
Annie Park:Yeah, we went to the ocean a lot. We went to the pier fishing to we went to New Smyrna Beach. So it was like the Atlantic Ocean and it was a lot of fun. Like we picked up a lot of like sheep's head there was one time we caught like, I think about 50, mackerels. Oh, it was a lot. Yeah, it was a lot of fish. And then just learned a lot of like, different types of fishes. Which I thought I would never like learn, to learn how to fillet a fish. I mean, I'm not a deep sea fishing person. Like I'm three for three like sick on the boat so far. Like it was crazy. Like there are times where we caught like, I think like a sword fish or something or mahi mahi and like a shark would just, you know, take our fish so it was it was a pretty cool experience. Very interesting at the same time. Didn't know that it could get really cold during deep sea fishing, so learned a lot of stuff. Yeah.
Douglas Maida:Oh, that's a wonderful experience. I know Brittany Lincicome likes to do a lot of fishing too. You didn't happen to get any tips from her did you?
Annie Park:No we didn't really get to talk much about fishing. But I do know that she does fish a lot more in the Tampa area, which is totally I think a little different from like the east part of Florida and the west part of Florida. So that has actually been on my bucket list to try fishing out like around Tampa. It's really good. Somebody one day.
Douglas Maida:Okay. Wonderful. So your routine obviously you might have been playing a little bit of golf and whatnot. But did you find when you started to play again and the, and the schedule resumed? Did you find yourself having to make a bit of an adjustment coming back?
Annie Park:Ah, I think it's more so the routine where we weren't allowed to go out or anything it was like quarantined when we were traveling. So I think that was The hardest part was like, you know, we want to go work out. And that's a huge factor part of our golf. But because like, the gyms are closed, we're quarantine in our room, like, we had to work out in our room. And it was just, I think that was kind of the biggest difference that was like, hindering our routine daily. But for me, that was kind of the biggest challenge.
Douglas Maida:Right, that the bubbles that you had to maintain at the time. How would you look back at 2020 and 21 -- In terms of your season? I mean, are you happy with the way your seasons went? Or there's some areas that you would have liked to have seen develop a little bit differently? How would you summarize it all?
Annie Park:I don't think I would have changed what I did in the last year. So I think everything happened for a reason, I think everything played out the way it did. Like I, you know, we, I did a lot, a lot of reflecting. During that time, I did a lot of introspection where, like, you know, like, who am I outside of the golf course. And, like living in Florida, like it was really hard to have that balance. So I decided to move to Dallas for what, what that reason was, I wanted more of a balanced lifestyle and an easier travel and easier on my body during that time. So I, the decision to move to Dallas was like very quick, very spontaneous. And, yeah, I moved to Dallas, and I was so happy with, you know, the area that I was living in, and there's just so much to do, and made a lot of friends, you know, outside of the golf course here. And so it's been great. And I think making that move during COVID was, I think, the biggest decision, and maybe the best decision that I made. So I'm really happy with, you know, what things, how things turned out.
Douglas Maida:Would you say then that it's one of the challenges of playing such competitive golf at the level you're at? Is that, because it's so intense, in terms of the scheduling, and, you know, for much of the year going week to week to week, that you really kind of lose focus of life outside of golf, is that . . .
Annie Park:Oh, yeah, good. First thing, for sure, like, you know, when they, when people say like, you know, golf, you know, is not what you do golf doesn't determine who you are, but at the, at the level that we play in, like, that's a huge part of our identity. You know, like, a lot of people, you know, the saying is true, it in reality, that is a fact, but at the same time, like, it's a hard reality for us to face, right. Because most of our schedule is based around our golf in our career. And, you know, what we do every day, and putting the time and effort is towards golf. And that's the hardest part that I learned this year was like setting times aside for myself and for you know, me, myself, but you know, for my loved ones, and, you know, trying to spend as much time as I can with, you know, my friends and my family just because, like, we're traveling from January through November, and we have December, to like, take time off. And during the travels we're gone for like, you know, maybe three weeks, maybe four to five weeks. And you kind of lose yourself during that time. You're just kind of like gonna start going in a rabbit hole, like going places to places and, you know, you get you get homesick for sure. And that's the biggest reality that I had to learn myself was, yeah, like, I was denying the fact that you know, golf is not who I am, but it is a huge part of who I am. And that was the reality that I had to face.
Douglas Maida:So is it fair to summarize your experiences then as saying it was an opportunity for you to find a way of balancing your on course persona, on course life with your off course life?
Annie Park:For sure. And I never the last two to three years, I kind of didn't know how to do that. It was always golf, golf, golf. And, um, I don't regret doing it. But because I did that I've learned that, you know, I wasn't having a balanced life. Because Golf was pretty much like, its like 90% of my life. And I had to learn that you know, the kind of the hard way where like, you know, I need time for myself sometimes and that time is very much needed and that correlates back onto the golf course. So I had to learn that a lot more this year versus last year.
Douglas Maida:So would you say, having gone through that experience that you are in a much, much more healthier situation both physically, mentally, emotionally?
Annie Park:I think it's definitely a work in progress. I still don't know. Like, what's the number one hobby that I enjoy? I'm just exploring a lot of stuff. But a lot of people had a tough COVID year. But for me, this year was the toughest. I don't know why i i enjoyed the time off last year. And this year, I think it's because we're now starting to have like a full on back to a full schedule. And, I mean, I was really not in a great place mentally, and, you know, emotionally and I decided to take two months off during my season this year. Because I knew the consequences that I could lose my card. I didn't know if I were going to play the next four events coming back. But I just was like, to a point where I need to take this two months off, and just focus on myself. And I'm so glad I did that. I definitely don't regret that decision either. But I will say coming back. For the for the last four events this year, the last event was very stressful, because it determined if I were to keep my card or not for next year. So I learned so much this year, more so than last year. I'm just a little different from like a lot of people who had a really struggling COVID year and you know, we're being able to go out more this year, like out in the field and less quarantine. Yeah, I don't know why it's been more tough for me this year.
Douglas Maida:You're saying is when you got into those last couple of events? It was? A lot of the pressure was on given your placement?
Annie Park:For sure. Yeah. Yeah, it was very stressful
Douglas Maida:Was that stress, something similar to when you're going to Q - School?
Annie Park:I would say a little different. Just because like, I wasn't worried about me not playing well. But I was going through a putter change on the last event. So because I was going through a putter change. That was what made it more stressful. I think if it was like if I just stuck with my like old gamer, and knew what like what my old gamer does. And you wouldn't know there would be no like surprises. But just because I changed my new putter like I was like, like, I don't know how this is gonna come out. I don't know how this is gonna, like, you know, react during tournament's like, so yeah, I think that was like, that's why I was like very stressed just because I put in a new putter the last week, I mean, it worked out, but I was just stressing,
Douglas Maida:Well, what you used to, you made an adjustment to going to long putter. I didn't, you know, I mean, forgive me -- we were following the last few events remotely, so we didn't get a chance to see too much footage. But are you still using a long putter? Or have you switched to a different kind of putter?
Annie Park:Um, I did try to go back to short during the Texas event in the summer, and went back to my long putter. But that was like a very brief scenario and just went back to my long putter. And I've just I got a new putter I wanted wanted to try it out. And so that's why I put in that new putter during that week.
Douglas Maida:Is there was there any sort of reasoning or rationale behind making that switch? Was it just a need to change things up?
Annie Park:I think it just -- Yeah, I was in the need for change. Because like the putter that I was putting with I just was like having trouble aiming. And when I got my new putter, it was like a dot versus a line. And I line up better with the dot for my alignment. So that helps me a lot align better and not like doubt myself. I was aiming correctly. So that was kind of the biggest reason why I changed to that new putter.
Douglas Maida:Okay, interesting. We'll talk about that a little bit more as we go on. We're going to take a short break right now while we have a little bit of some messages from our sponsors. And when we come back, we're going to chat a little bit about Annie's transition from an amateur to professional and we'll chat a little bit about the experience of playing this Solheim cup and representing their country again.
Amy (Studio):Did you know that our podcast show we're talking Golf was recognized as one of the top 40 podcasts to follow in 2021 for its coverage of the LPGA and Women's Professional Golf. Our show is produced by the world of golf. The world of golf is an independent digital media company. You can find our podcast show on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Google podcasts, and I Heart Radio. Now back to our show. Here is your host, Douglas meter.
Douglas Maida:Alright, we're back. Thank you for staying with us. Our guest today is Annie Park, who's a player on the LPGA. Tour. And any let's pick up where we left off with regards to your amateur career. Now, I understand you had a glittering Junior career. And then you attended USC on a scholarship. You had a fantastic career at USC, your rookie year, your freshman year was just phenomenal. Four time winner. You're the individual NCAA division one champion, and you help lead your USC Trojans to the national championship that year. I mean, that's just a fan... Oh, and not to overlook but you're also the Honda Athlete of the Year for Golf. So, I mean, incredible experience or what?
Annie Park:Yeah, it was I was crazy. I went to college a half semester early. So I graduated high school in 2012. And that was 2012. December, started my freshman year 2013. January. So it was like, you know, like a one week transition. So it was crazy. I went in, because I knew that like, I know, I wanted to contribute to the team. And it was a lot of pressure. I wanted to play well for the, for my team and didn't know what college life was going to be like. And so the biggest, I think the hardest challenge was time management. You know, I was used to already a hectic schedule, in high school, but going to college, like you're on your own, and you have to figure out like, you know, managing workouts, practice, going to classes, and then you know, your eating schedule. And then on top of that, like, you know getting ready for exams. That was pretty interesting. Like, I felt like I was the most managed person in that semester. Because I had to unless I was just not going to be able to do my homework. But it was fun. Like I, you know, made some great friends on my team. And not only on my team, but like outside of my team. And yeah, I just remember like, we had like one event we played like 36 holes. We had to come back home and write papers. It was crazy. But I had so much fun and we had a great season. We ended up winning a lot of events. But you know, more importantly, we we won PAC 12 Regionals and Nationals and you know, that was a crazy year. And I remember going into the 2014 season. We were thinking like we had like a long streak of like winning consecutively. So we just had like a packed team. While I was there, like my teammates were just so good. 2014 The freshman's were really good. Like, we just had a stacked team.
Douglas Maida:To cap it off. You were the Honda Player of the Year. I mean, that must have been a very Special accomplishment to
Annie Park:Yeah, it was crazy. Oh, it was nice to be. I was like, honoured because I was along with a lot of other, you know, great athletes, baseball, lsoftball, basketball, soccer, like, you know, just being surrounded by other, you know, female athletes where was just so cool. And it was, it was a really cool experience, I got to meet a lot of, you know, other female athletes and got to know them a little bit more, and it was fun.
Douglas Maida:So what was it like after winning the individual championship? I mean, obviously, you probably went into the event saying, you know, you'll do whatever you can and play your best for the team. Were you a little surprised that you came out winning the individual honors? Or was that something that you thought? With a lot of hard work? And, you know, maybe a break? Or two? You could have? You could? How would you say that the individual championship was a realistic goal.
Annie Park:Um, to be honest, my biggest goal coming into college was to play well for my team. And that was my biggest top priority. And my eyes or my eyes on the prize was just to play my bus out there. And, you know, if I do that, the results will show and whether the results are good or bad. As long as I give it 110% out there, I was happy. And I did that. And I ended up I guess, winning the national. So I just remember that year, I just really, really wanted to play well for my team, and didn't really think about individuals to be honest. But when I was playing well, and when I was going into the final round, leading I still couldn't I still wanted to play my best whether that was for me or for my team. So that's that's what it was.
Douglas Maida:Well, yes. Congratulations, belatedly. So was the Curtis Cup, your first opportunity to represent the United States?
Annie Park:Ah, no, no.
Douglas Maida:You had something in Jr. Yes. Okay. Curtis Cup is a step up from Jr. How was it to represent the United States on that team? And, and I believe that your the US won that year? Yes.
Annie Park:Yeah, it was, it was so much fun. We had a great team. And most of the girls that were on that team is now are now on the LPGA. And yeah, we just had so much fun, in having each other's company and was very memorable. And I thought I, I thought we were very compatible team. Whoever we were paired up to be teammates with for like a for a match, I thought we would have all been very compatible.
Douglas Maida:Then you make the transition from 2014 to 2015. And you join the Symetra Tour and the success continued an incredible year on the symmetric tour for 2015. You won three times, I believe, or four times three times, including finishing Player of the Year. And top of the I can't remember the name of the the race to the LPGA at the time, but let's just say you finished in the top spot for qualifying to the LPGA the following year. And your Rookie of the Year that year as well.
Annie Park:Yeah, it was crazy. Just because that 2015 year was just so crazy for me. Because in March, I had a thyroidectomy I went into the surgery, you know, mainly to just get my nodules removed and the doctors decided to just to remove the thyroid completely just so the nodules don't come back or anything else. So that was a huge, you know, surgery for me during that year. And then you know, played Nationals and that was the first year that they changed to Match Play. So I was able to experience the first year of you know, switching that to the Match Play. And I honestly really wanted to win the Nationals with my team because it would have been, you know, very memorable. If my last Nationals we win and I turned pro. I thought that would have been you know very special, but it was still special to have, you know a great team, had a great relationship with everyone. And then entered into Symetra mid-year, midseason, and my first tournament that I turned pro -- it, the tournament gets canceled because of rain. So I was like, 'Oh, well, this is interesting'. Like, I never got to really experience my first storm as a row. And then I just, you know, just I knew I didn't know, the traveling, because we drove a lot places, the next tournament, the next tournament, and that was pretty long. Thankfully, I was with my mom traveling, and she was able to caddy for me. So gad then ended up winning my first tournament in Rochester, which was very memorable. Just because it was right in New York, and then ended up winning my second tournament in Wisconsin. And then my third time in Kansas. So yeah, it was crazy. I honestly don't know how I did it. But I guess I did. Another crazy 2015 was because I decided to take 20 units during my fall semester. And that was a lot of classes like, and that was the year that I decided to turn to assign my major as communication. So I just had so many papers to write. It was just insane. And then, after I won my third event, I decided to just take a couple events off and focus more on school and catch up on my, my, my schoolwork and then played Symetra Championship. And that was actually the the determining factor, if I were to play, or if I were to be nominated as Player of the Year, because the player that was player of -- that was number one at the time, because I didn't play for a couple of months, she decided not to play the championship because she had a she had a wedding to go to. Then I had to, so I ended up playing. And the last day on the last hole, and I didn't know that this was like a big determining factor. I made a long putt for Eagle. And so I won Player of the Year by like, I think $20 I was like it was just crazy. So yeah, and then I ended up getting my card for the next year for 2016 -- for LPGA.
Douglas Maida:Yeah, let's talk about that a little bit. So you're coming off all this success at the collegiate level, Junior career and at the Symetra level. And then you get into 2016 and then into 2017 How would you say it was making that adjustment from from that stage in life to to basically the big tour?
Annie Park:Yeah, I mean, the LPGA was a long, lifelong dream of mine ever since I was young and that's why I started playing golf. So to be able to come on as a rookie, you know, playing alongside with legends on tour was huge. Like I was just starstruck for left and right and and then to be honest, I think the rookie year being a rookie on the LPGA is probably the toughest year one of the toughest years because I mean you you come on to tour and not knowing that travel is going to be the most hectic than you've ever experienced. And now it's all about the the pressure every event that you have to play well to maintain your card so yeah, like it was I didn't know what I was going into I guess I was going into the the dream but then was faced with reality that you know, you have a lot of travel you have to play while you have to finish a certain certain spot to keep your card and etc. So that was like the probably the toughest, what I thought was the toughest year, and then going into 2017 was tougher because I never went through like a body injury. And then my back ended up being flared up. And I couldn't play for the first like couple events. So I was out for like about three months. And you know, I never experienced what a flare up was. And not only was it like physically challenging, but like mentally and emotionally like you're just not able to do anything because you can't move. So it made me appreciate a lot more for you know waking up in the mornings being able to do what I'm able to do but also just able to move getting up out of the bed going to the bathroom. Like I think from that spirits I appreciate that so much more now. And been more, you know, focused on like my fitness and rehab. Just so I don't, hopefully the flare ups don't, you know, happen again, ever since then I did have like about three to four more flare ups. But thankfully the flare ups were a lot shorter. So definitely been a lot, but huge difference. But yeah, I mean, I had to go through a huge swing change from my back injury. And my strongest part of, the strongest part of my game was my long game. My short, my ball striking was probably my strength, then, ever since then, like I had to go through a swing change to alleviate the back pain. And eventually, it was not my strength anymore. So yeah, I decided, like December of 2017. Like, I don't think I want to play this sport again. I think I'm kind of done. And yeah, so my one of my best friend at the time, he was like, Hey, why don't you know I make go along Potter just try out a long putter. And I was like, I don't know, like, just my whole game is just kind of like not feeling right. So he was like, I'll just make it so you made me a long putter out of his garage. He sent it to me. And I talked to my, my Psycho sister. She's like, you know what, like, why don't you just give it another year? Because I don't want you to regret not giving it all of your bests. And what you could have done a lot more and looking back, like I just don't want you to regret. And she was like, Well, why don't you give it more than 100%. And just give it your all your heart out there. So 2018 I played a couple Monday Qualifiers with the long putter that my my friend made and ended up "Mondayi'ng" into the San Francisco event. Played well got reshuffled in, played the Dallas event. I had a really good season that year, just like pick according for like cuts made. And got my first one in New Jersey. And that was crazy.
Douglas Maida:A little special being so close to home?
Annie Park:Oh, yeah, I mean, being for my family to all come out and watch was just huge. Not only was it so close to home, being in New Jersey for the event, but just being for my family and my friends to be able to come out and watch me play and share that special moment with me was just made it that that much more special.
Douglas Maida:And I was gonna say, I noticed this year, you had family members again in the area. And when you were playing and on your social media, I know you even -- was that your sister that you -- took over your Instagram account for a few days?
Annie Park:Yeah. So she first took over my Instagram back in 2019 when both of my sisters came to Scotland. And she's like, she took over my Instagram and everyone loved it. So when I came back to New Jersey, I was like, Hey, do you want to take over my Instagram again? Because like, you know, everyone misses you on my Instagram. So she took it over for the two weeks for the two New Jersey events
Douglas Maida:I noticed in one post sheapologized in advance about posting something and hoping it was okay with you. I was gonna say only a sister could get away with it, right?
Annie Park:I mean, I didn't even know like she took a photo of me waking up, like literally just like so tired and like 5 a.m. And yeah, I had no idea that she posted that.
Douglas Maida:Well, that's family though, isn't it? always there for each other that way?
Annie Park:Right
Douglas Maida:I mean, you know, in a positive way. You know, you'd mentioned your back injury and flare ups. Did you ever have a determination as to what was causing the flare ups? Like was there anything disc related or, or something along that nature? Or was it just more aggravated muscles leading to tension on your spine or something like that?
Annie Park:Yeah, it was just kind of like a not like a bulging disc, but just just very inflamed. So they're like between, I guess your vertebraes. There's like space and I didn't have much space. So that's why it was getting inflamed and impingement. So that's like how my my flare was acting up because it was pinching a nerve. I was lucky that it wasn't, you know being shot to my My legs because I would have been more severe but my flare up I like asked them like, you know, what do you think the cause of this flare up is? And they said that it's probably just from like overuse just like at a young age, just repetition and over repetition. So yeah, she's, I guess bound to happen.
Douglas Maida:And so if I'm following correctly, I understand you made some alterations to your conditioning routines and things like that, to strengthen the area to ensure that you've got some solid stability or in and around your spine, and you have some good body movement, correct? Yeah, yeah,
Annie Park:yeah.
Douglas Maida:And, was the idea that, given your injury you you had to make or you want it to make a swing change, so as to avoid recurring injury.
Annie Park:It was to, so I made a swing change to alleviate the back pain for the time because I wanted to compete. And then, when I was feeling better, for like, a year, after two years after, I was starting to make, like, different swing changes to like, create more power, and like, you know, etc. And I guess just, you know, at the time, I was just going through so many changes, and there was no like, consistency for me at the time, where, like, I just felt so confused with my swing, and my swing identity, because I had this, you know, solid foundation of my swing, before my injury, and then just reverting to like, making swing changes left and right, alleviate, be alleviate back pain, create more power, and like, I was just changing all the time. And I just felt like, I didn't have a foundation anymore. I like, you know, don't even know, like my basics anymore. So actually, last year, during COVID, I was feeling, you know, 100% with my body, and I was ready to you know, make the changes that I wanted consistent. So I started looking at like my old swings, pre pre injury. And I was working with great physios and great coach at the time to like, see, like, Why was I getting these back pain? Why was I getting these impingement and cetera. But how can I also, you know, get the best swing that you know, better than even before. And so I decided, eventually, I decided to change coaches towards the end of the year, when I was working with actually a coach in Canada, he lives in Montreal. And you know, I never saw him in person. But we did a lot of like virtual work. And he's actually helped me a lot to create, to create that foundation and create that consistency. So beginning of this year, I started hitting it so much better, it was going getting to a point where I wanted, where I wanted in my long game. And then just because I wasn't able to see him, I started working with a short game coach in Dallas. And he's helped me a lot with my short game. And I was very hesitant to get a swing lesson because I don't really like changing coaches frequently. That's like because like my, my long term coach I worked with for like 13 years. So I don't want to, like, it's really like I'm very adaptable to change. But I, when it comes to like foundation, I want a consistency because I was changing so much. So I got, I took my first swing lesson with my short game coach in Dallas, and it was exactly the same thing. But he was saying, as my Canadian coach. So just ended up just seeing him because he's right at my club and he can see me almost, you know, every day just practice and you know, he's just there physically, but I'm just I'm so grateful for the Canadian coach because he really helped me you know, start that foundation. And it would have been nice to him, you know, meet him in person. But you know, what the whole the border and stuff like that it made it so much talk, but hopefully next year I could, you know, you know, meet him in person gets talked to him a little bit. So yeah,
Douglas Maida:I want to take a short short break and when we come back, I just want to pick up where we left off with the Solheim Cup and just kind of what life on tour is like for an LPGA professional. So we'll be right back after this short message.
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Douglas Maida:Alright, we're back. Thank you for staying with us. We're with our guests, Annie Park. And we're going to jump right into the experience of playing the Solheim cup. That must have been a really big, satisfying feeling in the dream to be fulfilled for you, was it not?
Annie Park:Yeah, for sure. Um, I mean, that was not only like being on the LPGA and like, I have other like, lifelong dreams I have too, but you know, Solheim was definitely one of them. Right. And, you know, ever since I won ShopRite 2018 and I was in, you know, contention to become one of the members on the team. I, you know, worked really hard and wanted to, you know, play really well, in any event that I was, you know, playing in and just wanted to be on the team so badly. And so the last tournament that was a determining factor of you know, if I were to be on Team or not, was actually the tournament Canada, in Toronto, and I made-- the last day again, last day on the last putt, I made this long putt for birdie. And I needed to make that putt to finish at a certain spot. And I think I like made it on the team by like, I think like point zero eight points (0.08) or something. It was like really tight. I say, Oh, my goodness, thank God, I made that pretty. But um, I guess I you know, I've I've prepared myself for the Solheim, you know, for so long moments and always jumped about it. So, you know, being able to go to Scotland and what have my like, you know, go to shots are my punch shots. So I love playing in the wind, just because I feel like you know, it's kind of one of my own strengths. So yeah, I just really enjoyed playing in the Scottish weather, even though it was really cold. And I got a got a minor cold too. But it was so much fun. Like, you know, we had a lot of moments with our team and just a lot of memorable, a lot of memorable moments.
Douglas Maida:Prior to that. You had been I'm sure you had been following some of the Solheim Cups in the past as well.
Annie Park:Yeah.
Douglas Maida:What was it like? Did you have any sort of feelings you're playing in Scotland? It's not too far removed from that controversy that happened a couple of years prior. Where you had the conceited pot or not conceited pot and whatnot. I noticed a few years later, but was there that same sort of rallying around that feeling of Hey, we gotta, you know, stick together as a team, we make this happen. I mean, did you have any thoughts about something like that?
Annie Park:Um, no one, no one really talked about it, just because it was just so far back in the past. But, you know, I was moreso worried about the weather. Like, because I'm, like, I think couple events before Solheim, we had Scottish open. And that was the year that, you know, the two waves the average score was just so so different. It was like, I think my way was like the toughest wave and it was like averaging I think, 80 (over par) like 100(over par). But then the other wave because the weather like cleared up like they were like averaging I think like even par like under par It was like ridiculous amount of like the difference. And so I was just like, like, I just hope the weather's good, but like, but the second match that I played and we played against Suzanne and Ann Van Damme and I was with Brittany Altomare. Like that what it was ridiculous to it was so windy, so cold, rainy, like we had everything going on. Like we had a complete Scottish weather that we were playing in. But the match itself was just it was so intense. It was I enjoyed it a lot. And I still like a great memory for me playing against them and that was you know from Suzanne coming out of her retirement or what, that's what she just cleared that she was going to retire. I was so nice and honored to play with her before she retired.
Douglas Maida:Now, was that in a four ball session or a foursome session?
Annie Park:Foursome, oh, Four Ball for a ball. Okay.
Douglas Maida:Okay. You know, and that's got to be an experience right there. Now she's coming back as Solheim Cup Captain.
Annie Park:I know. Yeah. She'll be a great captain. Yeah.
Douglas Maida:Any thoughts, is Solheim upcoming in two years, is that on your radar as one of your goals?
Annie Park:Yep. For sure. I was, I think my biggest goal is I would love to, you know, play on the Olympics eventually. So that's kind of my biggest goal right now. Yeah, Solheim too.
Douglas Maida:Wonderful. That'd be fantastic. I enjoyed watching you. And I'm sure lots of your fans enjoyed watching you play the Solheim as well.
Annie Park:Thank you.
Douglas Maida:And yes, if I remember correctly, most of the American team were wearing what we call in Canada touques --the big heavy woolen beanies and
Annie Park:Yeah.
Douglas Maida:Gotta keep your head and hands warm that chilly weather.
Annie Park:Yeah.
Douglas Maida:That's golf like that. We never see on the LPGA is it?
Annie Park:Right? Yeah. You barely see that.
Douglas Maida:I don't know if I'm talking out of school. So you tell me if we are.
Annie Park:Okay.
Douglas Maida:Word is that some of those Solheim cup parties are pretty, pretty spectacular. Is that? Uh,
Annie Park:Yeah, it's fine. I mean, I think it's, you know, at the end of the events, we get to, you know, let loose a little bit and just celebrate, you know, the, the moments of Solheim Cup, because I feel like personally, you know, so and, yeah, it's, you know, the US against Europe, but it's also a time to celebrate, you know, like, celebrate great golf, celebrate, you know, women's golf, celebrate, you know, just the unity and community that everyone comes to watch and support, you know, their country. And, you know, I think that's what makes us that much special. Yeah, I mean, the competition is intense, and it's, you know, fun, but, you know, you don't get that sense of unity and community, any other week. And, you know, at the end of the week, yeah, you know, we're competitors, but we're also, you know, down for a great time, and, you know, we want to share that memorable, special event, special moments with each other, whether, you know, you're on the European team or not, you know, we're still friends in the end, and, you know, wanna wanna have a great time.
Douglas Maida:Any funny stories to share
Annie Park:During Solheim, or?
Douglas Maida:Well, let's start with Solheim. And then maybe we'll move to the
Annie Park:No like, to be honest, during Solheim week, it was just so busy. Like our schedule was just like, we have this, this and this and this and like we barely had time to like, you know, like, do anything else. So I don't know. I just like during the
Douglas Maida:What about the Sunday night?
Annie Park:Sunday night? I don't really remember. I'm not very helpful.
Douglas Maida:That was so good that you don't remember?
Annie Park:Yeah, I don't remember. I don't really remember. It was just so much fun.
Douglas Maida:Okay, how about another time on tour? What would you say? Your funniest moment on tour has been?
Annie Park:Yeah, I think so. The funniest moment on the golf course. was probably because like San Francisco, it gets cold in the mornings. And me. I love to play early morning golf. I don't know why I just love like being the first one out there and just playing golf anyways, we played a practice round it was me Jane Park and Megan Khang. I think we're like playing for something, for boba(tea). And out of all the other holes, we chose this hole to play boba. And we had Gabe, he's our LPGA photographer. It was, I don't even know how he was there so early that morning. But anyways, we play this one.'We're like, hey, like let's play for boba!' And it was a par three at Merced. It was so cold. Jane had a phenomenal phenomenal, phenomenal shot. Megan had a great shot and then it was just me and Gabe was taking pictures. And Jane and Megan were right behind me so like Gabe got us three. And I was the one that was hitting. And I was like, I feel so confident over the shot like this is my shot. This is my club. I'm gonna do well.(Laughingly) It almost hit Gabe on the right. And he took the photo. And I was just like, we're all laughing hysterically. Like in the photo, Megan and Jane are like, Oh my gosh, I can't believe she just shanked it. So I ended up having to buy boba but anyways, like Gabe has the photo of me shanking it and then being shocked at my shank.
Douglas Maida:So you're human after all,
Annie Park:I am human after all. Yeah. It was, yeah, it was so funny, but also embarrassing at the same time.
Douglas Maida:And this was during the competition?
Annie Park:This was actually 2019 During Lake Merced event, the practice, practice round.
Douglas Maida:Oh, practice round. Okay, I was gonna say, I thought maybe the three of you were paired in competition.
Annie Park:Oh, goodness, that would be so dangerous.
Douglas Maida:Yeah. You've kind of talked a little bit about what life on tour has been like in terms of, you know, travel everywhere. And, you know, you're living out of a suitcase for most of the season and just going from one event to another event to another event. You know, I mean, are there any little tips or things like that, that you've picked up along the way that helps you adjust with all that travel and, and kind of stay on an even keel?
Annie Park:Yeah, for me, like, I personally like, like a, like a skincare routine. It's like just my little decompress. And I enjoy doing it. And part of like, self care as well. So I love to travel with my like skincare set. And it just kind of reminds me of home too, because I do this when I'm home. And I have my own products, that when I'm traveling and when I set up all my like skincare in the bathroom, like it's like a sense of like, oh, you know, I'm kind of home like, this feels like my new home for the week. So for me, that's like kind of a little, my little little thing to do, and a little reminder. But other people have probably like different self care teams that they love to do. And that does help a lot when you're traveling, because you're always going to be in a new place, week after week. And that little thing that reminds you of, you know, your little home, back where you're from, but also just kind of setting up a new home for the week and just adjusting and adapting to it really helps.
Douglas Maida:Yeah, for sure. That little bit of an anchor in your life. Annie, if you have a choice, I don't mean in a practice round. But if you were playing on competition, who would you like to, you know, who do you enjoy being paired with in competition?
Annie Park:I always love you know, Megan, and we have no chill together. But like we were paired up at Dow, and we actually were a really great team. So I love playing with, with Megan. I love playing with Lydia. She's just so sweet. But also, you know, we're we just, we just having such a great time together. Jennifer Song -- she is very funny. Very, like very different from what she what people think. Like she's, like, very composed and everything. But when you get to know her, she's just so funny. Amy Yang, another like, she's just so sweet. Just like an older sis, very caring. But also, like, we have like a lot of things to talk about and love. enjoy her company. I mean, there's just like, a lot of players out there that like I can't name like 140. But those are like kind of, I guess, like players that I could think of on top of my head. So .. .
Douglas Maida:Who would you say the most intimidating player is to get paired with. And when I say intimidating, I don't mean that they're mean or anything like that. It's just that somebody that you know, goes out there and you kind of feel in yourself that you kind of want to stack up to them a little bit or something like that. Is there anyone out there? Like?
Annie Park:I would say more like if Annika Sorenstam was still playing and maybe Se Ri Pak. If I were to be paird up with both of them. I would be so intimidated. Like I've like probably would be like I do not belong in this group. But I say I say this because I mean yeah, like one they're really great competitors with to like, you know, both of my like Annika was my idol growing up, and Se Ri Pak was, you know, another idol that was, you know, that I was growing up with, she was always surrounded by, you know, my Korean culture and my current community. So she's like a legend. And then my other big biggest idol is Anthony Kim, like, love, you know what he did for the game, love his personality, I just kind of like breaking the mold of a Asian American in general. Because typically, like, when we're Asian American, no one really considers considers us Asian or American in either of our country, like either of our countries or either of our cultures. So what he did was, you know, you appreciate him and respect him as a golfer in general, regardless of his skin color, or who he is like, you know, his personality, personality just shined even more, you know, so if I were to partner with those three, I, I don't think I would be able to play golf. And they will just drive the golf cart or something and like, let them play.
Douglas Maida:That's cute. We're coming towards the end of our show. Let's say you're out there practicing, whether it be in Dallas or at an event, you know, during the practice rounds, or something like that. And some kids or parents come up. And you know, say 'Annie, Annie, can we get your autograph?' Or, you know, can you share some words of wisdom? And the kids tell you that they're interested in golf, they want to kind of follow your path and be a professional, what would you what advice would you give to them or share with them?
Annie Park:Hmm, That's a good question. I have, like, I have a lot, I guess, because I went through my own personal experience, but maybe just to enjoy what they do. You know, like, just find what you enjoy doing. Whether that's like a hobby or not a hobby or your career, like, it does go a long way. And I think, I think I guess the biggest thing is, like, if there's something that you want to do, just do it, don't like contemplate like, you know, the consequences or something. Because when you're that young, and you have, there's something that you want to do, like, just do it, you know, because as you grow older, there's going to be more consequences, and there's more, you're gonna have less time to do things that you want to do because you have like, a job or something, or, but yeah, just do what you want to do. that, and you know, we were quarantined. And even if we wanted to go outside and do something, we couldn't be able to do that and be with friends. If you miss someone, you know, just tell them just message them, hey, I miss you. Like, let's let's grab food or like eat up like, I think that was kind of like the a lot of things that I learned during COVID was, you know, you miss your friends, but you know, you're busy doing this and that but like during COVID It made it worse because you can't even see them. Yeah, I think like, you know, just saying I love you to your parents and to your family as much as you can, or while you can. So appreciating like the little things like in life, I guess. Because during COVID There was a lot of things that we weren't able to do. And that restricted us.
Douglas Maida:Yeah, very good advice. Very sage, very sage advice. As we head towards 2022 and coming through the holiday season. Do you have any goals? Or have you started thinking about goals for 2022? Or?
Annie Park:Yeah, there's a couple goals. Definitely want to you know, have another win in my pocket. I definitely want more Top 10s next year, just play consistent good golf. But also managing time for my loved ones. And having time for more for myself too. And not getting lost in that mix again. Because that's very common every year.
Douglas Maida:Are there certain aspects of your game that you plan on working on or have set for goals as well are the more results?
Annie Park:I think more so I want to work on my short game -- a lot of like my my short game, putting, figuring out which putter I want to use for the rest of the season, instead of just changing left and right. Just more consistency in my life or more for my golf too.
Douglas Maida:Yeah. Okay, wonderful. Sounds like it'll be a fantastic year coming up for you. So what's next for you? Annie -- the holidays? And then?
Annie Park:Yeah, so actually, tomorrow I'm leaving, I'm going to Arizona, go see my best friend and then fly out Saturday to Vegas for my friend's wedding on Saturday. And then I think I might just be there for a couple days, because I have a couple friends that live out there. So let's just spend some time with them. And then head, come back. Maybe the 15th, 16th. And then I have a friend coming to Dallas for the weekend to hang out with her. And then it's Christmas. So yeah,
Douglas Maida:Yeah. Have you started to formulate your schedule for 2022?
Annie Park:Only up till January, and then depending on how I play there, maybe I'll have some tournaments in February or not. But most of the time, I think I don't want to have many events February and March, and then starts back at the end of March.
Douglas Maida:Okay, so what what -- What have you set for your first event?
Annie Park:I'm debating about what to play this. This tournament in Orlando. It's not LPGA. But for LPGA. It's gonna be 2 Florida events. I think, like end of January, beginning of February.
Douglas Maida:And do you have a first LPGA event in mind?
Annie Park:The first Florida event Yeah. Gainbridge.
Douglas Maida:Gainbridge. Okay. That's right, Gainbridge. So Gainbridge is going to be your first LPGA event back.
Annie Park:Yeah.
Douglas Maida:Wonderful. Excellent. Annie, an absolute pleasure chatting with you.
Annie Park:Thank you so much for having me.
Douglas Maida:Oh, our pleasure, our pleasure. We've been looking forward to this session with you for quite a while now. And that's been fantastic. Your stories have been very inspiring as well. I mean, that's . . . just the, some of the adversity you've dealt with and the way you bounced back and, and have shown such strength and perseverance is a big testament to who you are as an individual not let alone just as a player. So that's phenomenal. Thank you for taking some time to share some of that story with us.
Annie Park:Yeah, thank you so much.
Douglas Maida:And we're gonna wish you all the best for the New Year and a very successful 2022.
Annie Park:Thank you.
Douglas Maida:And that, ladies and gentlemen, concludes our show for today. Thank you very much for taking the time to listen in with us. Now we'd like to wish you all the best for the Christmas season to you and your family. Or if it's the holidays, such as Hanukkah or something else -- Season's Greetings, Happy Holidays. And if you don't tune in again until the new year, then we'd also like to wish you a Happy New Year from our family here at "We're Talking Golf" to yours.
Amy (Studio):You have been listening to our podcast show. We're talking golf produced by the world of golf. This episode was recorded on Thursday, December 9, 2021. If you have an idea for a future show, please send us an email to info@worldofgolf.org Please include "podcast show" in the subject line. This show is the copyright of the world of golf. Thank you for joining us