KLPGA's Closed Management Sparks Controversy Over Declining Competitiveness of Affiliated Players

KLPGA to Discipline Affiliated Players Participating in BMW Ladies Championship with Suspension
Affiliated Players Blocked from Korea's Only LPGA Tour Participation
Overseas Competition Rule Limited to 3 Times Annually During Tour Also Under Scrutiny

KLPGA Tour CI [Image source=KLPGA]

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Taewon] The Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) has come under scrutiny for its closed-off tournament management. Critics argue that the recent poor performance of Korean players on the U.S. Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour and the weakening of their position as a global powerhouse are not unrelated to this issue.

The controversy surrounding the association's management centers on the upcoming 'BMW Ladies Championship' scheduled for the end of this month. Currently, a notice titled 'Notice on Unofficial Overseas Tours' is posted on the KLPGA website. Through this notice, the association stated, "Starting this year, the 'BMW Ladies Championship' is classified as a tournament not sanctioned by the association," and "Players without LPGA Tour membership are not allowed to participate in this tournament." The association added that violations could result in disciplinary actions. The penalties outlined by the association include a suspension of up to 10 events and a fine of up to 100 million KRW.

This tournament is the only LPGA Tour event held in Korea. Until last year, the KLPGA participated as a local partner, allowing not only LPGA Tour members but also the top 30 earners on the KLPGA Tour to compete. The tournament results were also reflected in the KLPGA Tour money rankings.

Nevertheless, this year the association has prohibited KLPGA-affiliated players from participating due to failed negotiations with the LPGA regarding tournament operations. As a result, the event will be held solely under the LPGA's organization without KLPGA involvement.

The reason the association is blocking its players from participating in the BMW Ladies Championship with strong sanctions such as suspensions and fines appears to be concerns over the potential failure of the KLPGA Tour's 'KH Group IHQ Kanbae Women's Open,' which is scheduled to take place during the same period. Both the BMW Ladies Championship and the KH Group IHQ Kanbae Women's Open are set to be held over four days from the 20th to the 23rd of this month.

In fact, the association's notice states, "We must prioritize the 'KH Group IHQ Kanbae Women's Open' and the many members participating in this event over the 'BMW Ladies Championship,' which is unrelated to the association."

A KLPGA official explained, "This is a decision to protect the domestic tour, similar to other overseas tours," adding, "Since the KLPGA no longer has a role in the BMW Ladies Championship, we cannot choose not to hold our own (KLPGA Tour) event when we have the opportunity."

However, within the golf community, there is criticism that the association's excessively closed management not only weakens players' competitiveness but also undermines the status of the KLPGA Tour, which has established itself as one of the world's top three tours.

In fact, the association is evaluated as strictly limiting its players' participation in overseas tours. According to the KLPGA Disciplinary Committee regulations, the number of overseas tournaments a player can participate in during the KLPGA Tour season is limited to three per year. Unless under special circumstances such as permanent status, players must effectively give up their KLPGA Tour status to compete internationally.

Park Noseung, a former international referee of the Korea Golf Association, suggested, "To strengthen players' global competitiveness, the regulations should be improved so that if players meet certain domestic tournament participation criteria, their overseas participation should not be limited."

An industry insider who requested anonymity also criticized, "The rise in KLPGA's popularity was due to players' excellent performances on overseas stages like the LPGA. However, as the association's status rose, it has shown a closed attitude to prevent star players from going abroad, which goes against the trend."

Some also point out that the recent poor performance of Korean female players is not unrelated to this closed management.

After more than eight years, Korean players have failed to win in 10 consecutive tournaments, reflecting their poor performance on the LPGA Tour. Critics argue that the KLPGA's closed management is a cause of weakened global competitiveness. Out of 26 LPGA Tour events held this year, Korean players have won only 4 times so far, with no victories in the last 10 tournaments. This 10-tournament winless streak is the longest since a 17-tournament winless streak from October 2013 to June 2014.

This contrasts with the rise of players from major Asian countries like Japan and Thailand, who had previously been overshadowed by Korean players. A representative player is Atthaya Thitikul (Thailand), who won twice as a rookie this year.

The controversy over the association's management is expected to be addressed in the regular National Assembly audit starting on the 4th. On the 27th, the office of Lee Yongho of the People Power Party announced, "We have decided to summon KLPGA Tour CEO Kang Choonja as a witness at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism audit in October," adding, "We plan to focus on examining and pointing out decisions that go against the interests of association members and players."