[KLPGA Tour Review] Kim Hyoju '5-Time Champion'... Park Hyunkyung and Anna Lin's '2-Win Surge'

Only 17 Tournaments Held Amid COVID-19 Impact, Overseas Player Kim Hyoju Drives Popularity, Yuhyeonju and Kim Jayoung2 Fail to Secure Seeds 'Tears'

Kim Hyo-joo had the best year, securing 2 wins and ranking first in wins, prize money, and average score.

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] "30 events last year → 17 this year."

In 2020, the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour was hit hard by the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The season opener was delayed by more than a month, and major tournaments such as the Hanwha Classic and Hite Jinro Championship were canceled altogether. Kim Hyo-joo (25, Lotte) focused on the domestic stage instead of the United States, helping to sustain interest. She achieved the 'five crowns' by leading in wins (2 wins), prize money, and lowest average score. Choi Hye-jin (21, Lotte) won the Player of the Year award for the third consecutive year, and Yoo Hae-ran (19, SK Networks) received the Rookie of the Year award.

▲ Kim Hyo-joo's 'Perfect Comeback' = She was a player who caused a sensation by consecutively winning professional tournaments in Korea, Japan, and Taiwan as an amateur in 2012. In 2014, she won five KLPGA Tour events, securing the most wins, prize money, lowest average score, and Player of the Year awards, achieving the 'four crowns.' She also secured a 'direct ticket to the LPGA Tour' by winning the Evian Championship on the U.S. Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour. She recorded her third LPGA Tour win at the Founders Cup in 2015 and the Bahamas Classic in January 2016.

Her subsequent slump was rather unexpected. During the off-season, Kim Hyo-joo focused on increasing her driving distance and demonstrated her strength this season. In June, she won the Lotte Cantata Ladies Open, her first victory in three years and six months since the Hyundai China Ladies Open in December 2016, and in October, she became the 'Major Queen' with an 8-stroke victory at the KB Financial Star Championship. This marked her 12th KLPGA Tour win. She led in wins, prize money, and average score, making it her best year ever. She exclaimed, "I didn't expect to do this well."

Hyun-Kyung Park (left) and Na-Rin Ahn each secured two wins this year on the KLPGA Tour, leading the excitement.

▲ Park Hyun-kyung 'First Half', Ahn Na-rin 'Second Half' = Two stars received the spotlight. Second-year player Park Hyun-kyung (20, Korea Land & Housing Corporation) tasted her first career victory at the major KLPGA Championship in May. She firmly shed the label of a next-generation prospect and added the special significance of being the first professional golf tournament winner worldwide after COVID-19. In July, she led the excitement by winning the IS Dongseo Busan Open just two months later.

The second half belonged to Ahn Na-rin (24, Moon Young Group), who soared. She was an 'unknown' player who had never ranked in the top 30 in prize money or average score over the past three years. At the Otech Carrier Championship, she achieved a '92 attempts, 93rd success' story. She shot consecutive 7-under-par rounds in the 2nd and 3rd rounds and started the final day with a commanding 10-stroke lead. On the 8th, she triumphed at the Hana Financial Group Championship, boasting the largest prize money pool. The winner's prize was a whopping 300 million KRW.

Yoo Hyun-joo ranked 109th in prize money and then failed to advance in the qualifying rounds for next year's regular tour as well.

▲ 'Tears of a Star' = Yoo Hyun-joo (26, Golden Blue), a 'beautiful golfer' who had secured many fans, ranked 109th in prize money over seven tournaments this year and was relegated to the qualifying rounds. Her best personal result was 25th at the Samdasoo Masters in July. She also performed poorly, finishing 33rd at the KLPGA Tour qualifying rounds held on the 11th at the Jeonnam Muan Golf Course, failing to advance to the main event. As a result, she lost the opportunity to compete on the regular tour for a year and will seek chances on the Dream (second-tier) Tour next year.

'Ice Princess' Kim Ja-young 2 (29, SK Networks) also left the field. She ranked 66th in prize money and failed to secure a tour card for next year, which is granted to the top 60. She also withdrew from the regular tour qualifying final held on the 20th. Debuting on the tour in 2010, she was a leading player with three wins at the 2012 Woori Investment & Securities Ladies Championship, Doosan Match Play Championship, and Hidden Valley Ladies Open. However, she had been winless since her fourth career victory at the 2017 Doosan Match Play Championship.