[2021 Newstart④] 'Oldest Tour Golfer' Bae Gyeong-eun: "I Have to Play Until 40"

"Seeded 31st, Returns to Field After 7 Years, Plays Over 200 Rounds Annually with 250-Yard Drive Equipped "Aiming to Be a Good Senior""

Baek Gyeong-eun, who returned to the field after 7 years, is determined to "show the power of a veteran."

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] "I should play on the regular tour until I’m 40."

Born in 1985, Baek Kyung-eun, the oldest golfer on the tour, has a bold ambition. Last November, she ranked 31st in the 2021 Korean Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour qualifying tournament and confidently entered the first division stage. In a phone interview with Asia Economy on the 20th, she said, "You can play on the senior tour from age 41 in Korean age," adding, "Since I’m 37 this year, I will set my fire on the first division tour until then." Baek Kyung-eun is a veteran who has just returned to the field after 7 years.

She turned professional in the third year of middle school and won the KLPGA Tour major KLPGA Championship in 2001 when she was a first-year high school student. She has a total of 3 wins on the KLPGA Tour and was the money leader in 2005. In 2004 and 2005, she played both the KLPGA Tour and the U.S. Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) developmental tour, debuted on the LPGA Tour in 2006, and was active until 2012. After getting married in 2013 and retiring at the end of the 2014 season, she frequently appeared on broadcasts and worked as a ‘media pro.’

She demonstrated her enduring strength in the qualifying tournament, laying the groundwork to play most of the matches. Baek said, "I really wanted to play on the tour," adding, "If I played as an invited player, other players would be at a disadvantage, so I participated in the qualifying tournament," and smiled, saying, "I didn’t tell anyone about my participation." Although she left the tour, she played more than 200 rounds every year. Her driving distance did not decrease at all. Even during the qualifying tournament, she drove the ball 250 yards.

Her iron shots were also as precise as ever. She smiled brightly, saying, "I think my golf skills have improved," and "I’m looking forward to the season." She plans to face off against players in their early 20s who dominate the tour with her experience. "My long experience and wise course management will be helpful," she said, adding, "I will play without pressure." Due to the impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), she is training domestically.

"I’m confident in my ball striking, but not in walking," she said, "I’m doing 3 hours of physical training and aerobic exercise every day." She continued, "Although I’m getting older, I want to achieve results," emphasizing, "My goal is to win." Baek Kyung-eun said, "Since I don’t feel pressured about results, I think I will enjoy my tour life," and added, "I want to be a good senior, someone who buys meals for juniors and listens to their concerns."