Miss-Delectable
New Member
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2004
- Messages
- 17,160
- Reaction score
- 7
Deafness no handicap for Lee | Golf | The Australian
SOUTH Korea's Sung Lee is yet to win as a professional, but his achievements already far outweigh many of his colleagues.
Lee, who will play in next week's Australian PGA at Hyatt Coolum on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, was born deaf.
But don't try telling this 26-year-old his lack of hearing is a handicap. Lee won't have a bar of it.
"I really don't see myself as being handicapped," Lee said.
"I live my life just like anybody else. My job is a golfer and so I go out every day and try to be the best golfer I can be, not the best deaf golfer I can be.
"I really don't think being hearing impaired affects my golf swing in any way in particular."
Results would appear to confirm Lee's belief. After turning pro in 2000, he spent four years on the second-tier Nationwide Tour in the US before switching to the Asian Tour.
This year was his best thus far, when he finished 20th on the order of merit. His performances were highlighted by a tie for third at the Maekyung Open and a seventh placing at the Bangkok Airways Open.
Barring a missed par putt of less than a metre, it could have been so much better. Lee went agonisingly close to clinching a place in the British Open, missing a short putt on the final hole of regulation at Open qualifying which would have won him a place in the field at Royal Liverpool Golf Club.
He was pipped for the final ticket by India's Shiv Kapur after losing a play-off.
Asked whether his deafness was a help or hindrance on the golf course, Lee was ambivalent. As far as he is concerned, it has pluses and minuses.
"Sometimes it definitely helps because I am able to shut out unnecessary distractions around me and am able to focus just on the task at hand," he said.
"I think in that sense I do have an advantage in concentrating over other players. However, sometimes it can be a little difficult when I'm trying to take lessons from a coach.
"A lot of times we need to communicate by writing things down, but it's not the same as actually hearing the words.
"There are certain feelings and emotions in spoken words that sometimes cannot be expressed in writing.
"Sometimes it is difficult understanding the emotions behind the words."
That's where Lee's father comes in. Kang-kun Lee acts as his son's coach, confidante and conduit.
Lee communicates by lip-reading through his father and, not surprisingly, the pair have forged a strong bond.
When Lee quit baseball as a youngster due to communication problems, it was Lee senior who introduced his son to golf at the age of 16.
He has been there ever since, and the pair travels together full-time.
"My father is also my best friend," Lee said. "We travel everywhere together and he gives me lessons that go beyond the golf course.
"Playing good golf is important, but before that he wants me to be a good person and gives me advice more on life than on golf.
"I will always be grateful to him."
Lee is one of five leading players from the Asian Tour making the trip to Queensland to take on the cream of Australian golf.
Australian-raised Unho Park, who qualified for the British Open this year, is also among the Asian contingent.
The local challenge will be led by world No.4 Adam Scott, defending champion Robert Allenby and former champions Peter Lonard, Peter Senior, Jarrod Moseley and Craig Parry.
Lee, who based his swing on American Fred Couples and South Africa's Ernie Els, enters the tournament in a confident frame of mind after smoothing out some kinks with his putting stroke.
Beyond the Australian PGA, his long-term goal is the US. "As for next year, I'd like to really focus hard on the Asian Tour, and obviously my biggest goal right now is to be playing on the PGA Tour when the 2008 season comes around," he said.
SOUTH Korea's Sung Lee is yet to win as a professional, but his achievements already far outweigh many of his colleagues.
Lee, who will play in next week's Australian PGA at Hyatt Coolum on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, was born deaf.
But don't try telling this 26-year-old his lack of hearing is a handicap. Lee won't have a bar of it.
"I really don't see myself as being handicapped," Lee said.
"I live my life just like anybody else. My job is a golfer and so I go out every day and try to be the best golfer I can be, not the best deaf golfer I can be.
"I really don't think being hearing impaired affects my golf swing in any way in particular."
Results would appear to confirm Lee's belief. After turning pro in 2000, he spent four years on the second-tier Nationwide Tour in the US before switching to the Asian Tour.
This year was his best thus far, when he finished 20th on the order of merit. His performances were highlighted by a tie for third at the Maekyung Open and a seventh placing at the Bangkok Airways Open.
Barring a missed par putt of less than a metre, it could have been so much better. Lee went agonisingly close to clinching a place in the British Open, missing a short putt on the final hole of regulation at Open qualifying which would have won him a place in the field at Royal Liverpool Golf Club.
He was pipped for the final ticket by India's Shiv Kapur after losing a play-off.
Asked whether his deafness was a help or hindrance on the golf course, Lee was ambivalent. As far as he is concerned, it has pluses and minuses.
"Sometimes it definitely helps because I am able to shut out unnecessary distractions around me and am able to focus just on the task at hand," he said.
"I think in that sense I do have an advantage in concentrating over other players. However, sometimes it can be a little difficult when I'm trying to take lessons from a coach.
"A lot of times we need to communicate by writing things down, but it's not the same as actually hearing the words.
"There are certain feelings and emotions in spoken words that sometimes cannot be expressed in writing.
"Sometimes it is difficult understanding the emotions behind the words."
That's where Lee's father comes in. Kang-kun Lee acts as his son's coach, confidante and conduit.
Lee communicates by lip-reading through his father and, not surprisingly, the pair have forged a strong bond.
When Lee quit baseball as a youngster due to communication problems, it was Lee senior who introduced his son to golf at the age of 16.
He has been there ever since, and the pair travels together full-time.
"My father is also my best friend," Lee said. "We travel everywhere together and he gives me lessons that go beyond the golf course.
"Playing good golf is important, but before that he wants me to be a good person and gives me advice more on life than on golf.
"I will always be grateful to him."
Lee is one of five leading players from the Asian Tour making the trip to Queensland to take on the cream of Australian golf.
Australian-raised Unho Park, who qualified for the British Open this year, is also among the Asian contingent.
The local challenge will be led by world No.4 Adam Scott, defending champion Robert Allenby and former champions Peter Lonard, Peter Senior, Jarrod Moseley and Craig Parry.
Lee, who based his swing on American Fred Couples and South Africa's Ernie Els, enters the tournament in a confident frame of mind after smoothing out some kinks with his putting stroke.
Beyond the Australian PGA, his long-term goal is the US. "As for next year, I'd like to really focus hard on the Asian Tour, and obviously my biggest goal right now is to be playing on the PGA Tour when the 2008 season comes around," he said.