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U.S. Women's Open: Danielle Kang finally back where she belongs

The two-time U.S. Amateur champion is coming off her first Tour win.

Danielle Kang reacts after making birdie on the 18th green to win the Women’s PGA Championship golf tournament at Olympia Fields Country Club Sunday, July 2, 2017, in Olympia Fields, Ill.
Danielle Kang reacts after making birdie on the 18th green to win the Women’s PGA Championship golf tournament at Olympia Fields Country Club Sunday, July 2, 2017, in Olympia Fields, Ill.Read moreCHARLES REX ARBOGAST / AP

BEDMINSTER, N.J. — Danielle Kang was one of those teenagers destined for big things. She captured back-to-back U.S. Women Amateurs in 2010-11, becoming the first in 15 years to repeat. Then she went 143 LPGA Tour events without winning. Along the way, she was forced to deal with injuries and the loss of her father, who'd been her caddie, to cancer four years ago. Yet through it all, there was never a time when Kang questioned whether she'd be able to find her way again.

"It's not about being down," she said earlier this week at Trump National, where the U.S. Women's Open will begin Thursday morning. "It's mostly just the frustration. It's unfortunate, but you can't dwell on things that haven't happened. This isn't such a short career. I plan on being around a long time. So you've still got the next 10 years ahead of you. You have to get your head out of your [butt] and just go play.

"What kept me going is love of the game. It's not just about me. There's so many people around the world who've been supporting me since I was young. So I'm happy to be doing this for a living. I love being able to make more birdies, or see that my bunker shots are getting better. Being able to execute at tournaments, I think that's the high you get out of playing."

Two weeks ago, her long-awaited moment finally came when she won the KPMG Women's PGA Championship at Olympia Fields, Ill., near Chicago by a shot over defending champion Brooke Henderson. Maybe it can turn into a game-changer. She already had four top-10s this season, so perhaps it was merely a matter of when. She's still only 24. Her best finish in this major was a 14th in 2012. That had also been her best in any major before this month. She tied for 17th at last year's Open.

"My parents always told me everything will work out, everything will be OK no matter what," said Kang, who was born in San Francisco and now lives in Las Vegas. "I've got into car crashes and come home and they told me it's OK. I've never been to the point where I didn't think it would work out. I never thought about how grand it was going to be when I won, or how much of a dramatic entrance I would make. All I needed to do was keep working hard and believe in myself. But patience is not my virtue."

Kang, who first qualified to play in this Open a decade ago, made a birdie on the final hole to get her Women's PGA Championship trophy. She felt her father was there with her.

"Honestly, he would have said, 'That's my daughter, good job,' " she said, smiling. "Very simple and direct. Good job. It definitely would have been some hug …

"When I was putting that last putt, I didn't feel nervous. I was very nervous waiting to putt. But once I got over the ball, I felt so calm. That whole day, all week, the only other time I was nervous was on the first tee [before the last round]. All you can ask for is the confidence. That gives you the calmness, basically."

The personable Kang — who plays the piano and alto saxophone and enjoys drawing when she travels — has a strong friendship with Michelle Wie, who knows a thing or two about dealing with obstacles.

"She's been incredible," said Kang, who played in college at Pepperdine. "She looks out for me. She's been there. She's like a sister to me. I really am blessed to have her."

Kang played here in the 2009 Junior Amateur, where she made it to match play. But the only thing she remembers about the Old Course is it's "stressful." And some perks.

"We got the Donald Trump dolls," she said. "I remember getting Trump water bottles, that kind of gift."

She gets introduced at 12:52 p.m. on the 10th tee, her opening hole, along with playing partners Jane Park and Jennifer Song, and figures things will feel different.

"After [her dad died], I didn't like golf very much," Kang acknowledged. "I realized that you can't let yourself down. You have to see the end of what you wanted to do. I'm still going to keep doing it.

"Everyone keeps coming up and congratulating me. But it quite still hasn't sunk in yet. It's kind of funny. USGA events especially you get this vibe, the major vibe. I feel comfortable. That is most important."

It just took a while to get back there. Which only makes her appreciate it that much more.