'US Women's Open Surprise Victory' Kim Arim "I Will Join the LPGA Tour Next Year"

Securing Major Champ Qualification 'Direct Ticket to LPGA Tour' "Challenging the Long-Dreamed Stage"

'US Women's Open champion' Kim A-lim has announced her entry into the U.S. Women's Professional Golf (LPGA) Tour next year.

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] 'US Women's Open Champion' Kim A-rim (25) will join the U.S. Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour next year.

On the 21st, Kim A-rim declared, "It is a stage I have dreamed of for a long time," and added, "It is a great opportunity for my golf to develop." She secured a "direct ticket to the LPGA Tour" by winning the surprise victory at the final major of the 2020 season, the US Women's Open, held on the Cypress Creek Course (par 71, 6,731 yards) at Champions Golf Club in Houston, Texas, on the 15th. It is interesting that she is a non-member. She earned the chance to participate due to the impact of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Kim A-rim debuted on the KLPGA Tour in 2016 and has won two career titles: the Park Seri Invitational in September 2018 and the MY Munyoung Queens Park Championship in July last year. Most notably, she ranks first in driving distance on the Korean Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour with an average of 259.52 yards. In this US Women's Open, she also led the average drive distance among players who advanced to the third round with 262.5 yards, using her long drives as a driving force for her victory.

This means Kim A-rim already possesses the weapons to compete for wins on the U.S. stage. If she sets her mind to it, she can drive the ball up to 300 yards and has equipped herself with a "computer iron shot" that features high trajectory and a large amount of spin. She explained, "I realized during this tournament that the training environment is excellent," and added, "I will establish a system to adapt to the local environment as quickly as possible through meticulous preparation, including housing, manager, trainer, caddie, and winter training."

Kim A-rim returned to Korea on the 16th and is currently under self-quarantine. She said, "I have received many congratulatory messages after the victory," and expressed gratitude, saying, "I am thankful not only for my personal joy but also for being able to offer a small message of hope to many people struggling due to the COVID-19 situation." She added her ambition, "I will rest sufficiently while following the quarantine guidelines during my 'stay-at-home' period, and afterward, I will start practical training focusing on physical conditioning and technical shots in preparation for the LPGA Tour."