"The Year of the Rabbit is Mine"... Golf Players Born in the Year of the Rabbit Dreaming of a Leap Forward

Choi Hye-jin Expected to Showcase Skills on LPGA Tour
Lee Ga-young's Rising Momentum After First Win Last Year
Choi Ye-rim Draws Attention on Whether She Will Break Winless Streak

Choi Hye-jin is teeing off at the 2nd hole during the first round of the Dana Open, part of the LPGA Tour, held last September at Highland Meadows Golf Club in Sylvania, Ohio, USA. (Photo by AP)

The year 2023 is the Year of the Black Rabbit, or Gyemyo (癸卯) year. Black symbolizes wisdom, and the rabbit is an animal of abundance representing growth and prosperity of all things. In the golf world, there are rabbit zodiac players who, inspired by the energy of the Black Rabbit, are expected to make a leap forward this year.

Choi Hye-jin (24), born in 1999, is a representative example. She debuted on the U.S. Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour last year. In her first season, she finished in the top 10 ten times, including one runner-up finish in 27 tournaments, but she did not secure a victory. She also placed second in the Rookie of the Year competition. This year, she aims to make up for that and showcase her skills.

Her peer, Lee Ga-young (24), is also attracting attention as a player expected to continue her upward momentum this year. In October last year, she won her first professional title in her fourth year on the Korean Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour at the Dongbu Construction Korea Land Trust Championship. A seventh-generation prot?g? of Choi Kyung-ju Golf Academy, she donated 10 million won to the Choi Kyung-ju Foundation to support the development of promising golf talents. She reflected, "Because it was a long-awaited victory, I received many congratulations from fellow players and fans, making it an unforgettable year." Better results are anticipated this year.

Choi Ye-rim (24) is another rabbit zodiac golfer hoping to make new history this year. Last year, she finished as runner-up three times on the KLPGA Tour: at the Jeju Samdasoo Masters in August, the High1 Resort Ladies Open, and the PLK Pacific Links Korea Championship in December. Including 2018 and 2019, she has a total of five runner-up finishes. Now in her sixth year on the KLPGA regular tour, all eyes are on whether she will break her winless streak and achieve her first victory this year.