Whether it's talking about her viral YouTube videos or crazy surfing waves she just caught the other day, one will most likely never see 12-year LPGA Tour veteran Tiffany Joh frowning or in a grim mood. Yet, ahead of the first round at Wilshire Country Club for the HUGEL-AIR PREMIA LA Open, something that Joh wanted to make very clear was taking care of health is the most important thing in life, a lesson also shared by UCLA Health, a major sponsor of this week’s event.
“I think it definitely taught me to never take health for granted. Money, tournaments, like even your LPGA status comes and goes, but health is something you can never really replace. It should always be your first priority,” said Joh, who beat Melanoma cancer in 2017. “Especially right now with everything going on, I think everyone is taking extra care. I did have expired Cheetos for breakfast yesterday, so I'm not the best role model for this but health is what allows me to come out and play golf; allows me to go and paddle out with my friends and go for a surf. As much as I feel like I have a reputation for not being the most nutritious person, I will never again take my health for granted.”
An alumna of UCLA, Joh couldn’t stop sharing stories of her years as a Bruin, from memories with college teammates to now fellow LPGA Tour players like Jane Park, some of which happened at Wilshire Country Club. With such good memories to keep her motivated all week, Joh said she can’t wait to get the seventh event of the season underway.
"L.A. is so close to my heart because not only is it really close to home, but I went to school here for four years. I mean, we played the back nine at Wilshire every Wednesday morning as a member of the UCLA golf team. It's funny, because we would always have Wilshire from 7-11 a.m., then the USC team would come in from like 2-5, so every once in a while, you would have a changeover in the parking lot where you would see everyone,” said Joh. “It's so special to be here and L.A. is just, I think, the greatest city in the world. Can't go wrong. Good food, good beaches, good people. I'm stoked to be here.”
)
)
)
)
