[Golf Topic] "Is the US Women's Open the Korean Women's Open?"... '33 Korean Players Secure Entry'

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] ○…A total of 33 Korean players have secured eligibility to participate in this year's US Women's Open.

The United States Golf Association (USGA), which organizes the tournament, announced on the 21st (Korean time) that "the number of Korean players who have secured eligibility for the 75th US Women's Open has already reached 33." This is 11 more than the 22 Korean players who participated last year. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic preventing regional qualifiers, the USGA expanded the eligibility from the top 50 in the world rankings to the top 75. The world rankings are based on March 16.

The top 5 money leaders from last year's Korean Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour?Choi Hye-jin (21, Lotte), Jang Ha-na (28, BC Card), Lee Da-yeon (23, Mediheal), Lim Hee-jung (20, Hanwha Q CELLS), and Cho A-yeon (20, Volvik)?have secured eligibility. Players ranked 53rd Park Min-ji (22, NH Investment & Securities), 54th Lee So-mi (21, SBI Savings Bank), 64th Cho Jung-min (26, MY Munyoung Group), 65th Lee So-young (23, Lotte), 70th Kim Ah-rim (25, SBI Savings Bank), 72nd Kim Ji-young2 (24, SK Networks), and 73rd Park Chae-yoon (26, Samchully) also earned spots.

Recent US Women's Open champions within the last 10 years?Lee Jeong-eun6 (24, Daebang Construction), Park Sung-hyun (27), Jeon In-ji (26, KB Financial Group), Choi Na-yeon (33, Daebang Construction), Yoo So-yeon (30, Mediheal)?and major champions within the last 5 years?Ko Jin-young (25), Kim In-kyung (32, Hanwha Q CELLS), and Lee Mi-rim (30, NH Investment & Securities)?have already secured their spots. Kim Se-young (27, Mirae Asset), Kim Hyo-joo (25, Lotte), Hur Mi-jung (31, Daebang Construction), Ji Eun-hee (34, Hanwha Q CELLS), and Yang Hee-young (31, Woori Financial Group) qualified within the top 30 CME points.

Additional spots will be awarded on November 4 based on amateur world rankings and on November 11 based on LPGA Tour and LPGA Symetra (second-tier) Tour money rankings, so the number of Korean players may increase further. However, due to the persistent spread of COVID-19 in the United States, it remains uncertain whether players who have secured eligibility will actually participate. The US Women's Open, originally scheduled for June, was postponed to December 11 due to COVID-19. The fierce competition will take place at the Champions Golf Club in Houston, Texas.