21 Tournaments This Year, Yang Hee-young's Only Win
Ko Jin-young, Kim Hyo-joo, Kim Se-young, Jeon In-ji 'Winless'
Korda Dominates with 6 Wins, Thailand, Japan, Australia Strong
Korean Players Say "We Can No Longer Guarantee Victory"
"We are really working hard. But the skills have become similar. I can no longer guarantee a win like before."
Yang Hee-young is smiling brightly while holding the trophy right after winning the major tournament KPMG Women's PGA Championship.
This is the honest voice of Korean players competing on the U.S. Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour. The Taegeuk ladies have been struggling to collect winning trophies. Among the 21 LPGA Tour events this year, Yang Hee-young's victory at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship in June is the only win. Korea reached the top for the first time in 16 tournaments since the season opener. It is the longest 'win drought' since 2000, ending after 24 years. After Yang Hee-young, the failure to win has led to a crisis of the fewest wins since 2011, when they combined for three victories. Korea had previously achieved 15 wins three times in 2015, 2017, and 2019.
At the 2024 Paris Olympics, which ended on the 10th, Korea also failed to win any medals. Yang Hee-young tied for 4th place, while Ko Jin-young and Kim Hyo-joo tied for 25th. The only Olympic medal was Park In-bee's gold at the 2016 Rio Games. This marks two consecutive Olympics without medals, including the Tokyo Games. The LPGA Tour has been equally challenging. Only two Korean players are ranked within the top 10 in prize money: Yang Hee-young (5th) and Yoo Hae-ran (7th).
World No. 1 Nelly Korda secured six victories in the first half of this year, including a streak of five consecutive tournament wins.
Korea's slump is not a temporary phenomenon. The global women's golf scene has become more leveled. The era when Korean players competed for the title in every tournament they entered may not return. This year, the LPGA Tour has been dominated by world No. 1 Nelly Korda (USA). From the LPGA Drive On Championship in January to the Chevron Championship in April, she won five consecutive tournaments and has collected six wins this year alone. She leads in prize money ($3,006,871), Player of the Year points (214), and CME Globe Race points (3319). She ranks second in average score (69.98).
The rise of Asian countries is also notable. Winners include Hannah Green (Australia, 2 wins), Lydia Ko (New Zealand), Lin Xiyu (China), Saso Yuka and Furue Ayaka (both Japan), Patty Tavatanakit, Atthaya Thitikul, Chanette Wannasaen, and Moriya Jutanugarn (all Thailand, 1 win each). In the first half of the year, the U.S. secured 10 wins, Thailand 4, and Australia and Japan 2 each. A total of eight countries have produced winners.
Relatively, Korean players have been plagued by injuries and have stayed away from the winning circle. The slump of world No. 1 Ko Jin-young is regrettable. She is a strong player with 15 career LPGA Tour wins. Until last year, she suffered from wrist and shoulder injuries and admitted to psychological struggles, saying she "did not want to play golf." Although she climbed the rising tide by tying for 2nd at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship, she was still far from winning. Additionally, key players like Kim Hyo-joo, Jeon In-ji, Kim Se-young, and Park Sung-hyun have not reached the top. Newcomers to the U.S. stage this year, such as Sung Yu-jin, Lim Jin-hee, and Lee So-mi, also have no trophies.
Korean players are aiming for a turnaround in Europe. After the Paris Olympics, the LPGA Tour will hold tournaments in Europe for two weeks. The ISPS Handa Women's Scottish Open (total prize money $2 million) opens on the 15th at Dundonald Links (par 72) in Ayrshire, Scotland, followed by the major AIG Women's Open (total prize money $9 million) from the 22nd at the Old Course at St Andrews (par 71), Scotland. Including these two European events, the LPGA Tour has 14 tournaments remaining. It is time for the Taegeuk ladies to fight hard in the second half of the season.
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