Golf is a dream sport for many of us. Although not all possess the skills that a pro golfer would need, many have dreamt of becoming a professional one day. Can you imagine a pro golfer saying that the sport was not the dream job for them? That is what happened when Danielle Kang revealed the shocking news. Danielle Kang is an LPGA Tour player. She holds the no. 10 [https://www.lpga.com/players/danielle-kang/88561/bio] position in the Official World Golf ranking list. She has won five LPGA titles, including a major; Kang won the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in 2017. Watch This Story: Nelly Korda Breaks American World Ranking Record [https://www.essentiallysports.com/stories/golf-news-nelly-korda-breaks-american-world-ranking-record/] Kang is a Korean-American and started playing golf at the age of 12. She became a professional less than two years later in 2011. Although she became a pro golfer at a young age, Danielle has revealed that golfing was not her first career choice. DREAM JOB OF DANIELLE KANG WASN’T GOLF? It will be shocking news to everyone who follows Kang’s golfing career that she didn’t want to play golf in the first place. She wanted to become an actress. [https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/danielle-kang-womens-world-championship.jpg] In an interview, she said [https://www.golfdigest.com/story/danielle-kang-cover-story-interview], “I thought I was going to be in entertainment.” Danielle further added that she loves film, cinematography, animation, etc., and thought she would be either an actress or part of the film industry in some way. Read more: The Korda Family Slam: A Legendary Feat That Might Never Be Achieved in Sport Again [https://www.essentiallysports.com/golf-news-tennis-news-the-korda-family-slam-a-legendary-feat-that-might-never-be-achieved-in-sport-again-nelly-korda-jessica-korda-petr-korda-sebastian-korda/] It would come as a surprise for everybody, but Danielle said she got interested in golf because of her brother. As a family person, she wanted to spend time with her brother, and since he enjoyed playing the sport, she would join him at the practices. She explained that she played the sport in the past because of all the attention. However, over the past few years, Kang realized that she actually loved golfing over the past few years. Danielle said, “I love the game now. I love the process. I love getting better.” She added, “I love everything about it.” Read more: ‘That Person No One Wanted Around’- Paige Spiranac Reveals the Atrocities She Faced During Childhood [https://www.essentiallysports.com/golf-news-that-person-no-one-wanted-around-paige-spiranac-reveals-the-atrocities-she-faced-during-childhood/] We don’t know about her, but we are happy that Kang chose golf as her career. Otherwise, we would have lost a gem. 

Danielle Kang is one of the best golfers in the world now. But she revealed that
golfing was not her first choice of profession? Read more...

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Danielle Kang’s Ambitious Childhood Dream Wasn’t to Become a Professional Golfer

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<h2><strong>Danielle Kang 2023: Early Life, Relationship, and Career</strong></h2>
Danielle Grace Kang was born on October 20, 1992, in San Francisco. She is an American professional golfer who currently plays on the LPGA Tour. The golfer was quite a phenom in her amateur days, as she won the U.S. Women's Amateur twice, in 2010 and 2011.
<h2><b>Early Life, College, and Amateur Career</b></h2>
Kang grew up in Southern California. She studied at Oak Park High School but was later transferred to Westlake High School. She did college at Pepperdine University in Malibu in 2010. In 2007, she was 14 years old when she qualified for the US Women’s Open. Kang played junior golf extensively with the Southern California PGA Junior Tour alongside fellow SCPGA alumni such as Lizette Salas and Brianna Do.

[caption id="attachment_1521561" align="aligncenter" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-1521561 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/Danielle-Kang-1.jpg" alt="Danielle Kang" width="1920" height="1344" /> April 28, 2022, Palos Verdes, California, USA: Danielle Kang during Round 1 at the Palos Verdes Championship presented by Bank of America on Thursday April 28, 2022 held at the Palos Verdes Golf Club in Palos Verdes, California. /PI Palos Verdes USA - ZUMAp124 20220428_zaa_p124_066 Copyright: xJAVIERxROJASx. Image Credits: IMAGO[/caption]

In her college days as well, Kang played on the Pepperdine golf team through the regular season in the spring of 2011. Though she was ruled academically ineligible to compete in the 2011 NCAA post-season, she stated that she was not disappointed because she wanted to focus on her future and wanted to turn pro after the US Women’s Amateur.

Kang won her first U.S. Women's Amateur in 2010, and afterwards, she competed in all four majors as an amateur in 2011. She made the cut in three of the majors. She repeated her US Open Amateur win in 2011 in August to become the first player in 15 years to win consecutive titles.
<h2><strong>Professional Career</strong></h2>
After turning professional, Kang competed in her first tournament in 2011. It was in September at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship. Although she entered the tournament on a sponsor's exemption, sadly, she missed the cut. The same year, she entered the 2011 LPGA Qualifying School, where she survived Stage II, shooting +5. Her score was just inside the cut line to qualify for the final stage. She finished the final stage of Q-School and tied for the 39th spot. She then earned conditional status on the LPGA Tour for 2012.

In 2012, she played 19 tournaments and made cuts in 13 of them. She earned a total of $239,184 that year and was in 52nd place on the official LPGA season-ending money list. After her success in 2012, she earned full-time status on the LPGA Tour.

For four years after turning full-time, she did not win any tournaments, but her career’s first win came at the 2017 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. She then won the 2018 and 2019 Buick LPGA Shanghai tournaments. Next year, in 2020, Kang won the LPGA Drive On Championship at Inverness Club in Ohio, which was the LPGA's first tournament back after a six-month hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. One week later, Kang won her fifth LPGA Tour event at the Marathon Classic.

Kang won the 2020 Vare Trophy for the lowest scoring average on the LPGA Tour. In 2022, Kang won the fifth title on the Tour at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions at Lake Nona Golf &amp; Country Club in Orlando, Florida.

[caption id="attachment_1521570" align="aligncenter" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-1521570 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/Danielle-Kang-5.jpg" alt="Danielle Kang" width="1920" height="1280" /> ROGERS, AR - SEPTEMBER 25: Danielle Kang USA reacts after chipping in for eagle on the on the 18th green to send the tournament into a playoff during the final round of the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship at Pinnacle Country Club on September 25, 2022 in Rogers, AR. Photo by Andy Altenburger/Icon Sportswire GOLF: SEP 25 LPGA, Golf Damen - Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&amp;G Icon4392209251241. Image Credits: IMAGO[/caption]

In 2023, when she started her new season, she narrowly missed a rare back-to-back win when she lost to her longtime friend <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/lydia-ko/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lydia Ko</a> at the Gainbridge LPGA at the Boca Rio tournament. The two were tied against each other at 12-under after the 14th hole in the fourth round when Ko made a birdie at the 15th to take the lead, and both birdied the 16th; then both parred the final two holes. She earned $184,255 to Ko's $300,000.

In 2022, at the end of the US Women’s Open in June, the golfer announced that she would be going on a hiatus from golf. She shared that she had a tumor in her spine that needed to be treated. She then returned to the sport in late August of the same year and competed in the CP Women’s Open.
<h2><b>Personal Life</b></h2>
Kang is of Korean-American descent and was born to South Korean parents, K.S. Kang and Grace Lee. Her father used to caddy for her before he passed away in 2013 due to cancer. She has a brother, whose name is Alex Kang. He played golf for San Diego State. Kang is unmarried, but she was in a relationship from 2018 to 2021. She started dating Maverick McNealy, who is also a professional golfer from Las Vegas. The duo dated for three years before calling it quits in 2021.

[caption id="attachment_1521566" align="aligncenter" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-1521566 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/Danielle-Kang-3.jpg" alt="Danielle Kang" width="1920" height="1280" /> OTTAWA, ON - AUGUST 28: Danielle Kang of the United States on the 1st hole tee during the final round of the CP Womens Open on August 28, 2022, at The Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club in Ottawa, ON, Canada. Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire GOLF: AUG 28 LPGA, Golf Damen - CP Womens Open Icon220828213. Image Credits: IMAGO[/caption]
<h2><strong>Professional wins and best major finishes</strong></h2>
<strong>1. LPGA Tour wins</strong>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><strong>Year</strong></td>
<td><strong>Tournament</strong></td>
<td><strong>Winning score</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2017</td>
<td>KPMG Women's PGA Championship</td>
<td>−13</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2018</td>
<td>Buick LPGA Shanghai</td>
<td>−13</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2019</td>
<td>Buick LPGA Shanghai</td>
<td>−16</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2020</td>
<td>LPGA Drive On Championship</td>
<td>−7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2020</td>
<td>Marathon Classic</td>
<td>−15</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2022</td>
<td>Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions</td>
<td>−16</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<strong>2. Best finishes in major tournaments</strong>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><strong>Year</strong></td>
<td><strong>Tournament </strong></td>
<td><strong>Position</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2017</td>
<td>KPMG Women's PGA Championship</td>
<td>T1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2018</td>
<td>Evian Championship</td>
<td>T18</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2018</td>
<td>US Women’s Open</td>
<td>T4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2019</td>
<td>Chevron Championship</td>
<td>T6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2020</td>
<td>Women’s British Open</td>
<td>T32</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

Danielle Kang

Danielle Kang 2023: Early Life, Relationship, and Career Danielle Grace Kang was born on October 20, 1992, in San Francisco. She is an American professional golfer who currently plays on the LPGA Tour. The golfer was quite a phenom in her amateur days, as she won the U.S. Women&#8217;s Amateur twice, in 2010 and 2011. Early Life, College, and Amateur Career Kang grew up in Southern California. She studied at Oak Park High School but was later transferred to Westlake High School. She did college at Pepperdine University in Malibu in 2010. In 2007, she was 14 years old when she qualified for the US Women’s Open. Kang played junior golf extensively with the Southern California PGA Junior Tour alongside fellow SCPGA alumni such as Lizette Salas and Brianna Do. April 28, 2022, Palos Verdes, California, USA: Danielle Kang during Round 1 at the Palos Verdes Championship presented by Bank of America on Thursday April 28, 2022 held at the Palos Verdes Golf Club in Palos Verdes, California. /PI Palos Verdes USA &#8211; ZUMAp124 20220428_zaa_p124_066 Copyright: xJAVIERxROJASx. Image Credits: IMAGO In her college days as well, Kang played on the Pepperdine golf team through the regular season in the spring of 2011. Though she was ruled academically ineligible to compete in the 2011 NCAA post-season, she stated that she was not disappointed because she wanted to focus on her future and wanted to turn pro after the US Women’s Amateur. Kang won her first U.S. Women&#8217;s Amateur in 2010, and afterwards, she competed in all four majors as an amateur in 2011. She made the cut in three of the majors. She repeated her US Open Amateur win in 2011 in August to become the first player in 15 years to win consecutive titles. Professional Career After turning professional, Kang competed in her first tournament in 2011. It was in September at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship. Although she entered the tournament on a sponsor&#8217;s exemption, sadly, she missed the cut. The same year, she entered the 2011 LPGA Qualifying School, where she survived Stage II, shooting +5. Her score was just inside the cut line to qualify for the final stage. She finished the final stage of Q-School and tied for the 39th spot. She then earned conditional status on the LPGA Tour for 2012. In 2012, she played 19 tournaments and made cuts in 13 of them. She earned a total of $239,184 that year and was in 52nd place on the official LPGA season-ending money list. After her success in 2012, she earned full-time status on the LPGA Tour. For four years after turning full-time, she did not win any tournaments, but her career’s first win came at the 2017 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. She then won the 2018 and 2019 Buick LPGA Shanghai tournaments. Next year, in 2020, Kang won the LPGA Drive On Championship at Inverness Club in Ohio, which was the LPGA&#8217;s first tournament back after a six-month hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. One week later, Kang won her fifth LPGA Tour event at the Marathon Classic. Kang won the 2020 Vare Trophy for the lowest scoring average on the LPGA Tour. In 2022, Kang won the fifth title on the Tour at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions at Lake Nona Golf &amp; Country Club in Orlando, Florida. ROGERS, AR &#8211; SEPTEMBER 25: Danielle Kang USA reacts after chipping in for eagle on the on the 18th green to send the tournament into a playoff during the final round of the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship at Pinnacle Country Club on September 25, 2022 in Rogers, AR. Photo by Andy Altenburger/Icon Sportswire GOLF: SEP 25 LPGA, Golf Damen &#8211; Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&amp;G Icon4392209251241. Image Credits: IMAGO In 2023, when she started her new season, she narrowly missed a rare back-to-back win when she lost to her longtime friend Lydia Ko at the Gainbridge LPGA at the Boca Rio tournament. The two were tied against each other at 12-under after the 14th hole in the fourth round when Ko made a birdie at the 15th to take the lead, and both birdied the 16th; then both parred the final two holes. She earned $184,255 to Ko&#8217;s $300,000. In 2022, at the end of the US Women’s Open in June, the golfer announced that she would be going on a hiatus from golf. She shared that she had a tumor in her spine that needed to be treated. She then returned to the sport in late August of the same year and competed in the CP Women’s Open. Personal Life Kang is of Korean-American descent and was born to South Korean parents, K.S. Kang and Grace Lee. Her father used to caddy for her before he passed away in 2013 due to cancer. She has a brother, whose name is Alex Kang. He played golf for San Diego State. Kang is unmarried, but she was in a relationship from 2018 to 2021. She started dating Maverick McNealy, who is also a professional golfer from Las Vegas. The duo dated for three years before calling it quits in 2021. OTTAWA, ON &#8211; AUGUST 28: Danielle Kang of the United States on the 1st hole tee during the final round of the CP Womens Open on August 28, 2022, at The Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club in Ottawa, ON, Canada. Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire GOLF: AUG 28 LPGA, Golf Damen &#8211; CP Womens Open Icon220828213. Image Credits: IMAGO Professional wins and best major finishes 1. LPGA Tour wins  Year Tournament Winning score  2017 KPMG Women&#8217;s PGA Championship −13  2018 Buick LPGA Shanghai −13  2019 Buick LPGA Shanghai −16  2020 LPGA Drive On Championship −7  2020 Marathon Classic −15  2022 Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions −16  2. Best finishes in major tournaments  Year Tournament  Position  2017 KPMG Women&#8217;s PGA Championship T1  2018 Evian Championship T18  2018 US Women’s Open T4  2019 Chevron Championship T6  2020 Women’s British Open T32

Danielle Kang’s Ambitious Childhood Dream Wasn’t to Become a Professional Golfer

Dream job of Danielle Kang wasn’t golf?