Introducing GolfRSA rising star Woo-Ju Son

With the Nomads SA Girls Championship less than a week away, we take a closer look at one of this year’s prime contenders, Woo-Ju Son.

With the Nomads SA Girls Championship fast approaching, we take a closer look at one of this year’s prime contenders, Woo-Ju Son, who has made a strong case for more success at Orkney Golf Club from 2-4 July

Son has been on the rise in a big way this season, with no less than six turns in the winner’s circle on the Womens Golf South Africa senior and junior circuit, including back-to-back victories in the Free State and Limpopo Championships.

The Country Club Johannesburg golfer also outperformed more than half of the professional field at San Lameer Country Club to win the amateur division in the SA Women’s Open on the Sunshine Ladies Tour.

FULL NAME
Woo-Ju Son

BORN
18 February 2001 in Bedfordview, Johannesburg

RESIDENCE
Eagle Canon Golf Estate

GOLF CLUB
Country Club Johannesburg

SCHOOL and GRADE
Curro Aurora, Grade 10

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
2016: Winning Nomads WP Junior Champs, Gauteng North Junior Champs, Curro SA Junior International, Limpopo Champs and the 72-Hole Teams Championship and SA Women’s Inter-Provincial with my Gauteng team mates.

2017: The top highlights were defending my title at the Curro SA Junior International, the Nomads WP Junior Champs and Limpopo Champs and taking the Jackie Mercer Trophy for winning the Amateur Division in the SA Women’s Open. Other highlights include winning the Boland Junior champs, WP Women’s Amateur champs and the Free State Open.

TELL US SOME THINGS ABOUT YOURSELF THAT MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW
I play the piano
I am actually left handed but play golf right-handed (people often get surprised I don-t know why)
I love books and buy a whole bunch of them, but once they get home they chill in a whole pile in my cupboard.
I love the outside world, like exploring space
I love all animals, except pugs
I made my second hole-in-one at the same course and hole at Zwartkops and I had three eagles-in-a-row at Randpark

STILL ON MY BUCKET LIST
Winning on the LPGA and KLPGA Tours
I want to travel and explore the world
Helping people and animals as I travel

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT THE START OF YOUR GOLFING CAREER
I was five when I saw my parents play golf. I got interested in this game and asked my parents to buy me a set of those ‘’Little Tiger’’ golf sets at Pro Shop in Woodmead. At first they refused, so I went and sat next to the clubs and cried my eyes out until my parents gave in. But the real reason I pursued the game is my coach Phil Simmons.

DO YOU SET YOURSELF GOALS?
I do set myself goals and my goals for this year is to get the number one senior ranking and winning the IMG World Junior Championship

 

WHO ARE YOUR ROLE MODELS?
My used to admire Tiger Woods as he had so much confidence in himself and a strong mind-set, but now my role model is Lydia Ko as she always keeps calm and steady

 

STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESS OF YOUR GAME?
My strengths and weaknesses depends on how much I work on it and how I feel on the day

WHAT ARE YOUR BEST AND YOUR WORST TRAVEL EXPERIENCES?
My best experience was travelling to Scotland and watching The Open and my worst was waiting at an airport for 12 hours

TOURNAMENT OR MAJOR YOU WOULD MOST LIKE TO WIN?
I would like to win the U.S Women’s Open

WHAT SONG WOULD THEY PLAY FOR YOU AT THE FIRST TEE?
Glorious by Macklemore ft. Skylar Grey, because I feel glorious and I was born for this game

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE HOME-COOKED MEAL?
My mom’s Korean dishes

THREE MUST-HAVE ITEMS IF YOU WERE STRANDED ON AN ISLAND?
A phone with unlimited battery and data, my golf bag and food

DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN ONE WORD
Lazy

WHAT’S THE WEIRDEST THING YOU’VE EVER EATEN?
Live squid. It was moving, it was ugly, but it was delicious

WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE GROWING UP?
I wanted to be the number one professional golfer in the world

WHAT WOULD YOU ASK FOR IF YOU WERE GRANTED THREE WISHES?
Controlling time so that I can go back in time to my worst rounds in tournaments and play my round of golf again till I win
Travelling into space and finding new planets, stars etc
More wishes

TWO THINGS YOU’RE REALLY GOOD AT?
Not listening and saying ‘’I don’t know’’

WHO WOULD BE IN YOUR DREAM PAIRING?
Myself and Lydia Ko

AND IN YOUR FANTASY FOURBALL?
Inbee Park, Hendrik Stenson, Jordan Spieth

WHICH ACTRESS WOULD YOU PICK TO PLAY YOU IN A MOVIE ABOUT YOUR LIFE?
Emma Watson, because she is independent, she had strong goals on becoming an actress and because she is beautiful and smart at the same time

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?
Nothing I can think of

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUNGSTERS JUST STARTING THE GAME?
Golf is frustrating, hard and boring at times, but as you get used to, it will become your life, love and work. It takes time to get better in this game and dedication and commitment is key for the game.

Golf is a test of how much patience you have, because if you don’t have the patience, it will drive you crazy. So if you have what it takes, give it a try and see if you can handle the game of golf.