2021 Domestic Golf Scene: "Who Leaves, Who Returns"

Sumin Lee, Junghoon Wang, Yunkyung Heo, Hyunju Yoo 'Goodbye Gallery', Junghwan Lee, Younghan Song, Baekgyeong 'Hello Field'

Isu-min (left) and Jeon Garam are temporarily leaving the field to fulfill their military service.

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] "A time of parting and meeting."

This is the story of the domestic professional golf scene in 2021. There are players who leave the beloved field for various reasons. Some retire to serve in the military or to live a new life, while others reluctantly put down their golf clubs after failing to pass the qualifying rounds. On the other hand, there are ‘reservists’ who come back because they miss golf too much or return after fulfilling their military duties. Introducing the ‘Goodbye, Hello Golf Stars’ who say, "In the Year of the Metal Ox (辛丑年), I will make a turning point in life."

▲ ‘Goodbye’ = First, players who are about to enlist in the military. Lee Soo-min (28) caused a sensation by winning the Gunsan CC Open in 2013 as an amateur, and after turning professional in 2015, he reached the top again, setting a milestone as the ‘single tournament amateur + professional simultaneous winner.’ In 2016, he advanced to Europe with his victory at the European Tour’s Shenzhen International but returned to the domestic stage without notable results.

Heo Yoon-kyung is seen smiling brightly during her retirement match at the Hana Financial Group Championship last November.

In October 2019, he made a spectacular comeback by collecting the winner’s trophy at the Choi Kyung-ju Invitational for the first time in four years, and last July, he secured his fourth career win, including one as an amateur, at the KPGA Open. He explained, "I want to put down golf temporarily during my military service period and find peace of mind." Jeon Ga-ram (26), a ‘2-win champion,’ is also enlisting this year. He is a player who earned his first victory at the DB Insurance Pro-Am Open in April 2018. His unique experience of working as a caddie at the Daeyu Mongber Golf Course, where the tournament was held, became a hot topic.

‘European 3-win champion’ Wang Jeong-hoon (26) is also scheduled to enlist next month. Kim Ji-hyun 2 (30), a ‘4-win champion’ on the Korean Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour, and Heo Yoon-kyung (31), a ‘3-win champion,’ have announced their retirement. They are veterans who played in the first division tour for 10 consecutive years and joined the ‘K-10 Club.’ Heo Yoon-kyung shared, "I want to spend a lot of time with my family." Yu Hyun-joo (27), Ahn So-hyun (26), and Baek Gyu-jeong (26) lost their tour cards.

Song Young-han (above) and Lee Jung-hwan will complete their military service and return to the Korean Tour this year.

▲ ‘Hello’ = ‘Iron Man’ Lee Jeong-hwan (30) is eagerly looking forward to meeting golf fans. He was discharged in October last year and will return to the Korean Tour this year. He joined the tour in 2010 and achieved his first victory at the Kaido Golden V1 Open in June 2017, seven years later. Just before enlisting, in November 2018, he topped the Golfzon·DYB Education Tour Championship. He said, "I built my body with weight training in the military," showing his fighting spirit.

Lee Jeong-hwan said, "The players’ skills are amazing," and added, "Competition has become tougher, so I think I need to be more tense." He also mentioned, "I haven’t participated in tournaments for two years," and "I will focus on improving my game management skills first." Song Young-han (30), who won rookie awards in both Korea and Japan, also returns after being discharged in August last year. He expressed confidence, saying, "I am glad to have completed my military service healthily," and "I will show my growth."

Bae Kyung-eun (36) returns to the KLPGA Tour after retiring in the 2014 season, seven years later. She turned professional in the third year of middle school and won the major KLPGA Championship in 2001 when she was a first-year high school student. She is a star player with three domestic wins and experience on the LPGA Tour, where she was the ‘Money Queen’ in 2005. After working as a ‘media pro,’ she showed her resilience by ranking 31st in the qualifying tournament last November.