K Golf Star "Happy New Year"..."Let's Fly Higher in 2022~"

‘Shriners Champ’ Im Sung-jae and 'Number 2' Ko Jin-young, Korea's first Champions Tour winner K.J. Choi, 'Triple Crown' Kim Joo-hyung, ‘KLPGA Tour Queen’ Park Min-ji

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] "Happy New Year."

The ‘K-Golf Stars’ sent New Year greetings to the readers of Asia Economy Newspaper for 2022, the Year of the Black Tiger (Im In Year). They include ‘Shriners Champ’ Im Sung-jae (24), world No. 2 female golfer Ko Jin-young (27), the first Korean to win on the U.S. PGA Champions (Senior) Tour Choi Kyung-ju (52, SK Telecom), ‘Korean Tour No. 1’ Kim Joo-hyung (20), and Park Min-ji (24, NH Investment & Securities), who swept an impressive six wins on the KLPGA Tour. They all vowed, "This year, we will fly even higher."

Im Sung-jae leads the charge. In March 2020, he earned his first PGA Tour victory at the Honda Classic. He became the seventh Korean champion in history, following Choi Kyung-ju, Yang Yong-eun (50), Bae Sang-moon (36), Noh Seung-yul (31), Kim Si-woo (27), and Kang Sung-hoon (35). Last October, he already secured one win by capturing the Shriners, which counts toward the 2022 season. He has declared his participation in the Sentry Tournament, with a total prize of $8.2 million, opening on the night of the 6th at the Plantation Golf Course of Kapalua Resort on Maui Island, Hawaii.

Ko Jin-young set a new milestone as the ‘three consecutive years’ money leader’ on the U.S. LPGA Tour, boasting five wins. This is a rare record not seen since Lorena Ochoa (Mexico, 2006?2008) thirteen years ago. After 2019, she earned various titles again this year, including Player of the Year, CME Globe Race, and No. 1 in the ‘Leaders Top 10’. Nelly Korda (USA), with four wins and a ‘Tokyo Olympic gold medal’, is challenging her, making this year’s ‘No. 1 competition’ fiercely contested.

Choi Kyung-ju is a veteran with 22 years since moving to the U.S. in 2000. He has a total of eight wins, including the 2002 Compac Classic. Highlights include the June 2007 Jack Nicklaus-hosted Memorial Tournament, the July AT&T hosted by Tiger Woods (both USA), and the May 2011 ‘fifth major’ The Players Championship. Since last year, he has entered the Champions Tour for players aged 50 and over, winning the Pure Insurance Championship in September. He has also led the development of Korean golf by establishing the Choi Kyung-ju Foundation in 2007 and founding the Choi Kyung-ju Invitational in 2011.

Kim Joo-hyung is the next-generation world star. In July 2020, he became the youngest champion (18 years and 21 days) at the KPGA Gunsan CC Open, and in June last year, he recorded his ‘second win as a teenager’ at the SK Telecom Open. He competed for victory in every tournament, including one win and three runner-up finishes in 14 events, achieving the KPGA ‘Triple Crown’ with the money title, MVP, and lowest scoring average. He is knocking on the door of the big leagues with participation in the PGA Tour’s CJ Cup in October and a challenge at the Korn Ferry (second-tier) Tour Qualifying Tournament (QT) also in October.

Park Min-ji is the ‘Queen of the KLPGA Tour’. She claimed six wins including one major, dominating the money list and MVP awards. She also made headlines as the first player ever to surpass 1.5 billion won in season earnings. With innate ‘sports DNA’, strong physical fitness, and ‘ironclad mentality’, she has virtually no weaknesses. She plays with full concentration every moment and quickly shakes off mistakes, embodying what is called ‘joyful golf’. It is interesting that she has even triggered a ‘Catfish effect’ that stimulates other players like Lee So-mi (23) and Lim Hee-jung (22). She said, "I am thoroughly managing my body to run again," showing her determination.