[2021 New Start⑮] 'Used Rookie' Song Ga-eun "I'm Leading the Rookie of the Year Race~"

Maintained Rookie Status Last Year Due to Insufficient Debut Appearances, Achieved Two 'Top 10' Finishes This Year, Specialty in Putting, Role Model is 'Golf Queen' Park In-bi

'Used Rookie' Song Ga-eun succeeded in gaining the upper hand in the early rookie of the year race on the KLPGA Tour.

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] ‘It’s Song Ga-eun.’

There is a player drawing attention because of a name similar to trot singer Song Ga-in. It is Song Ga-eun (21, MG Saemaeul Geumgo) of the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour. She joined the regular tour last year but only participated in seven tournaments due to the impact of COVID-19. Due to the insufficient number of appearances, she is still considered a rookie this year. She smiled brightly, saying, "Since I played in seven tournaments last year, I’m half a rookie. I want to achieve good results in every tournament I enter."

Currently, she has the most outstanding performance among rookies. Although she tasted the bitterness of missing the cut at last month’s opening Lotte Rent-a-Car Ladies Open, she performed well with a tie for 5th place at the Nexen Saint Nine Masters and a tie for 10th place at her first major, the Chris F&C 43rd KLPGA Championship. She ranks first in rookie points (313 points), fifth in overall points (77 points), 15th in average score (72.15), and 16th in prize money (48.33 million KRW). She is evaluated as "the most promising rookie to win first."

Song Ga-eun is from Hongseong, Chungnam, and started golf at the age of seven, being called a ‘golf prodigy’ since childhood. In 2016, she joined the national training team, and in 2018, she ranked first among amateurs and third overall in the Korean qualifier for the US Women’s Open, earning a spot in the LPGA major. After turning professional in March 2019, she entered the dream stage by ranking 28th in the regular tour qualifying tournament at the end of that year. Last year, she played both the first and second-tier tours but realized the high level of competition.

She finished 77th in regular tour prize money (54.14 million KRW) and maintained her tour card by ranking 12th in prize money (49.47 million KRW) on the Dream (second-tier) Tour, including one win and five top-10 finishes. She is not tall, standing at 159 cm. Her average driving distance is 247 yards (57th). Her short game skills are excellent. She proudly said, "I am confident in my approach shots and putting." In fact, she ranks second in average putts (28.23). She smiled, saying, "I want to have the nickname ‘Putting God.’"

Song Ga-eun’s role model is the ‘Golf Queen’ Park In-bi (33, KB Financial Group). She explained, "Her mental strength to always play solidly without being obsessed with results looks admirable." She added, "Although we are the same age, I also want to resemble Lim Hee-jeong (21, Korea Land & Housing Corporation), who works hard." She is in fierce rookie of the year competition with Kim Jae-hee (20), Son Joo-hee (25), Lee Se-hee (24), and Jung Se-bin (20). She was cautious, saying, "I don’t pay attention to the rookie of the year race; I just work hard in each game."