Choi Hye-jin "Vanguard of US Women's Open"... Domestic Players Submit Mass Entries

On the 10th, final major opens with KLPGA members Anna Lin, Yoo Hae-ran, Lim Hee-jung, Kim Ah-rim and others competing

'KLPGA Grand Prize 3 Consecutive Wins' Choi Hye-jin Leads as the Forefront Domestic Player in the Final Major US Women's Open.

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] Choi Hye-jin (21, Lotte) took the lead.

On the 10th (Korean time), the US Women's Open, a major LPGA Tour event with a total prize of $5.5 million, will open at the Champions Golf Club (par 71, 6,546 yards) in Houston, Texas. This is the story of the 'domestic players' participating. This year's US Women's Open was postponed from June to December due to the impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), and qualification was granted based on world rankings without regional qualifiers, allowing many domestic players to secure tickets.

Choi Hye-jin is especially notable as the surprise runner-up during her amateur days in 2017. She is currently in high spirits after achieving a 'three consecutive Player of the Year titles' by winning last month's KLPGA Tour final, the SK Telecom·ADT Caps Championship. Joining her are co-top winners Anna Lin (24, Munyoung Group), Rookie of the Year Yoo Hae-ran (19, SK Networks), Lim Hee-jung (20, Hanwha Q CELLS), Kim Ah-rim (25, SBI Savings Bank), and Kim Ji-young2 (24, SK Networks).

On the other hand, the champion group including two-time winner Park Hyun-kyung (20, Korea Land & Housing Corporation), Jang Ha-na (28, BC Card), Ahn Song-yi (30, KB Financial Group), Park Min-ji (22, NH Investment & Securities), and Lee So-mi (21, SBI Savings Bank) have declined to participate. The worsening COVID-19 situation in the US and the two-week self-quarantine after returning home are burdensome. Kim Hyo-joo (25, Lotte), who won five titles on this year's KLPGA Tour, also gave up returning to the US due to concerns over the spread of COVID-19.

The 'LPGA squad' includes world No. 1 Ko Jin-young (25), No. 2 Kim Sei-young (27, Mirae Asset), two-time champion Park In-bee (32, KB Financial Group) from 2008 and 2013, 2011 champion Yoo So-yeon (30, Mediheal), 2017 champion Park Sung-hyun (27), and defending champion Lee Jeong-eun6 (24, Daebang Construction). The 'Japan-based players' Bae Seon-woo (26) and Jeon Mi-jeong (38) are also supporting the team. The competition remains a 'no-audience event,' with 156 players including nine past champions fiercely competing for the title.