The post-round interview at Wild Horse Pass featured the same polite bowing and radiant smiles we’ve come to expect from In Gee Chun, but the tension behind her eyes told a much different story. While she spoke of “process” and “staying positive,” insiders close to the tour are whispering that the three-time major champion is suffering from a devastating crisis of confidence. In a field dominated by the relentless dominance of Nelly Korda and a new wave of teenagers, Chun’s methodical, artistic approach to the game is beginning to look like a relic of a bygone era.
Speculation regarding her mental state has reached a fever pitch. Sources suggest that the constant pressure to maintain her “International Crown” status while her putting stroke wavers has led to a grueling, almost manic practice schedule behind the scenes. Is the “Dumbo” we love flying on borrowed time? The locker room chatter suggests that Chun is no longer feared by the top ten; instead, she is being viewed with a mixture of respect and pity—a legendary figure who can still make a cut but can no longer summon the “killer instinct” needed to hoist a trophy.
The reputation of the South Korean vanguard is on the line here. As In Gee struggles to keep pace in the desert heat, the question isn’t whether she can find her swing, but whether she has the mental fortitude to endure being an “also-ran” after years at the summit. If the second-round struggles in Arizona are any indication, the grace she shows in her interviews might soon be the only thing left of her once-dominant game. Is she preparing us for a shock retirement, or is this the slow, painful fade-out of one of golf’s most beloved personalities?
