Seven-time LPGA Tour winner and two-time major champion Sung Hyun Park is seeking a route back to regular competition on South Korea's KLPGA Tour. On October 27, 2026, Park said publicly that she was preparing for domestic qualifying school. SBS News reported, citing a KLPGA official, that she had submitted her application for the preliminary stage on October 26, the registration deadline.
The news marks a significant moment for one of South Korea's best-known professional golfers. Park has already enjoyed major success on both sides of the Pacific. Yet past titles alone do not grant the playing opportunities she wants next season: she is preparing to earn a place through the tour's current qualification procedure.
The November route to a KLPGA place
According to the dates provided by KLPGA to SBS, preliminary qualifying is scheduled for November 3–6, 2026, at Muan Country Club in South Jeolla Province. Players who advance will contest the final stage on November 10–13. SBS reports that a finish around the top 30 at the final stage is the approximate target for relatively dependable access to the 2027 regular-season tournament schedule. Exact priority will depend on the final rankings and tour regulations.
Entering qualifying school should not be confused with winning a full KLPGA Tour card. Park must still advance from the first stage, perform in the final and earn a suitable position in the priority order.
Why a decorated champion is taking this route
Before establishing herself internationally, Park won 10 times on the KLPGA Tour. She joined the LPGA Tour in 2017 and made an immediate impact by claiming the 2017 U.S. Women's Open. Her second major followed at the 2018 KPMG Women's PGA Championship. The LPGA's official records credit her with seven career LPGA Tour victories, including those two major championships.
Her more recent years have been difficult. SBS links the decline in results to shoulder and back injuries affecting her since 2019. In 2026 she also competed on the second-tier U.S. professional circuit. Importantly, LPGA records still show four starts for her on the main tour in 2026; the new Korean plan does not mean she had entirely ceased competing there.
An official from Sema Sports Marketing, Park's management agency, told SBS that the prospect of remaining on the U.S. secondary circuit next season helped persuade her to pursue the Korean tour route for now. That is a decision about her near-term competitive schedule, not an announced retirement from international golf.
Park's own message
Writing on Instagram on October 27, Park confirmed that she was preparing for domestic qualifying and said she would give it her best regardless of the outcome. The statement establishes her intention, but it does not guarantee qualification or establish how her game will perform over multiple tournament rounds.
The significance of the comeback attempt
Park once reached the very top of women's golf through victories on the biggest stages. Her immediate test is now more straightforward: navigate two qualifying stages and finish high enough for meaningful KLPGA starts in 2027. That contrast is what makes the story compelling, but it also calls for restraint. Her confirmed application is the beginning of the process, not its conclusion.
The November 3–6 preliminaries and November 10–13 final are the next dates to watch. Her qualifying results—not her reputation—will determine the opportunity ahead.
Reporting on the application, player statement and qualifying schedule is based on SBS News, October 27, 2026, quoting KLPGA and Park's management. Career wins and major titles were cross-checked against LPGA records.
