Kim Se-young "First Win GO"... Jutanugarn "Marching for 2 Consecutive Wins"

Clash at Pure Silk Championship Opening Night on 20th: Thompson and Korda Join the Race for Victory

Kim Sei-young aims for her first win of the season at the Pure Silk Championship

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] ‘Number 3’ Kim Se-young (28·Mediheal) is set for a winning start.

On the 20th (Korean time), the LPGA Tour Pure Silk Championship (total prize money $1.3 million) kicks off at Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, Virginia, USA (par 71, 6,445 yards). This is a fierce battleground. After competing in two tournaments in the Asia region, the tour returns to the US mainland. It is the 10th event of the 2021 season, with a winner’s prize of $195,000 (about 220 million KRW). Notably, no Korean player has won since Shin Ji-ae (33) in 2012.

Kim Se-young is a strong favorite to win. She debuted on the LPGA Tour in 2015 and has accumulated 12 career wins. She won Rookie of the Year and earned two victories last year, including her first major at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, which earned her Player of the Year honors. This season, she has started smoothly, competing in six events. Last month, she finished tied for 3rd at the first major, the ANA Inspiration, and tied for 2nd at the Lotte Championship, entering the top 3 twice. She ranks 12th in earnings ($333,995).

After finishing the Hugel-Air Premia LA Open on the 25th of last month, she adjusted her condition with sufficient rest and training. She skipped the HSBC Women’s World Championship (Singapore) and Honda LPGA Thailand (Thailand) held in Asia. Her stats are solid: 21st in average driving distance (269.23 yards), 15th in greens in regulation (75.00%), and 15th in putts per hole when hitting the green (1.76). Now, she just needs to demonstrate clutch ability in critical moments.

Interest is also on Ariya Jutanugarn (Thailand) aiming for a second consecutive win. On the 9th, she completed a 5-stroke comeback at the Honda LPGA Thailand. This is her 11th career win, her first in 2 years and 10 months since winning the Scottish Women’s Open in July 2018. Most notably, she is returning to the ‘promised land’ where she won in 2016 and 2018. Other dark horses include 2019 champ Bronte Law (England), 2017 champ Lexi Thompson, ‘Gainbridge champ’ Nelly Korda (both USA), and ‘LA Open champ’ Brooke Henderson (Canada).

Korea’s top player Ko Jin-young (26), along with ‘Golf Queen’ Park In-bee (33·KB Financial Group), ‘HSBC Women’s champ’ Kim Hyo-joo (26·Lotte), Yoo So-yeon (21·Mediheal), and Lee Jeong-eun6 (25·Daebang Construction) are all absent. Park Sung-hyun (28), who has shown signs of a slump, is dreaming of a comeback. She has played in seven events but missed the cut four times. Jeon In-ji (27·KB Financial Group), Kim A-rim (26·SBI Savings Bank), and Choi Na-yeon (34·Daebang Construction) are participating.