[The Editors' Verdict] Yoon Inna, You Are Still Young

Debuted on the U.S. Women's Professional Golf (LPGA) Tour in 2004. Since then, she has won 6 times over 19 years. Golf enthusiasts can easily recognize who she is. It is player Ji Eun-hee (36).

This year, Ji Eun-hee set a new record. In May, by winning the LPGA Bank of Hope Match Play, she broke the record for the oldest Korean female player to win on the LPGA stage. This is quite different from most Korean golfers who retire in their 20s after entering the LPGA. Six wins over nearly 20 years is not a dazzling record. Compared to Ko Jin-young, who is world No.1 and has won 13 times in just 5 years since her debut, it may seem modest.

In a recent interview with a media outlet, she said, "I want to be called a veteran, not an old player." Although she recently suffered the ‘humiliation’ of being cut off by younger juniors during a domestic outing, she does not mind. Regardless of wins or losses, she continues her passionate active career.

Watching Ji Eun-hee’s golf life brings to mind another player. Yoon In-na, who recently received a severe penalty of a 3-year suspension from the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) for deliberate misplay and delayed reporting.

The reporter previously wrote a column titled ‘Beware of leniency’ right after the controversy over Yoon In-na’s misplay surfaced. It is now futile to debate whether the 3-year suspension is appropriate. In any case, the player herself has humbly accepted the penalty, and the controversy has been settled for the time being.

However, the somewhat extreme evaluation that "her career is effectively over," raised by some after the KLPGA’s disciplinary decision, cannot be agreed with. Of course, for a professional player who must maintain consistent performance, three years is not an easy period.

But she is only 19 years old. Even if she serves the full suspension period, she can return to the KLPGA stage at 22. Even without the suspension, she is paying a harsh price for the mistakes she made. Therefore, the public should firmly oppose arbitrarily judging her career fate.

Although overshadowed by a momentary mistake, her potential remains boundless. The reporter believes that even after three years, that potential will still be valid.

Kim Young-seok, an emeritus professor at Yonsei University known as the ‘103-year-old philosopher,’ recently received enthusiastic applause from the audience during his keynote speech at the ‘Good Brain 2022 Conference’ hosted by Asia Economy, when he said, "There is no need to think you are old until you are 90." Moreover, the mistakes made by a player not even 20 years old are by no means irreparable.

The public trial has already been sufficiently conducted. Now, what the golf world and the media should do is to let her go for a while.

This time is precious for Yoon In-na herself as well. In an interview three years ago when she was active as a national representative, she said, "I just liked hitting the ball and enjoyed watching it fly smoothly." Her mistake, if examined, is a result of the pressure of ‘success.’ We hope she returns to being a player who enjoys golf itself with a beginner’s mind. We support her return to the stage in a more mature form after three years.