Inbee Park has withdrawn from the U.S. Women's Open and UL International Crown with a nagging left thumb injury.
The U.S. Women's Open will be played July 7-10 at the CordeValle resort in San Martin, Calif. Park is a two-time U.S. Women's Open champion, winning in 2008 at Interlachen and in 2013 at Sebonack.
Park will also miss the team-based UL International crown later in July. She withdrew her name from the competition over concerns that her injury will not have healed by the time the event happens. She'll be replaced on the South Korean team by So Yeon Ryu.
“After the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, I met with doctors and my medical team and they strongly recommended rest for my left thumb injury to heal,” Park said in a statement. “In addition, the UL International Crown is currently one month away, and I’m uncertain my injury would heal within that time frame. Therefore, with my unfortunate injury conditions, I am sad to say I cannot commit to UL International Crown this year and giving an opportunity to one of my Korean colleagues seemed more appropriate.”
Park, 27, has struggled this season to stay inside the ropes, missing a month early in the year to rest up the thumb. However, the rest proved to have little effect on her performances. Her last five competitive rounds on the LPGA Tour have been 77-74-84-72-79.
The world No. 2 officially qualified for the LPGA Hall of Fame at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship when she finished her first round at Sahalee in Washington to lock up 10 years of LPGA service, a requirement for induction. However, Park didn't make the cut after an opening 1-over 72, falling to a second-round 79 to miss the weekend.
Park has hinted at retirement, as she intends to start a family with her husband and coach. However, at Sahalee, she offered little definition around when she could hang up the cleats, suggesting it could be on the horizon or that she could continue to play for several more years.
