[Field Story] No Challenge, No Progress

Domestic Tour Hits Hesitate Overseas Expansion
Concerns Over Rapid Decline in International Competitiveness
Overseas Success and Domestic Tour Growth Together

"Without challenge, there is no progress."

This is a famous quote by George S. Patton, a hero of World War II from the United States. It is a phrase that Korean Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour players should remember. The conditions for players competing in the domestic regular tour have improved. The number of tournaments has increased, and the prize money has grown. Sponsors are more diverse, and substantial bonuses can be earned. In short, it has become more favorable.

The KLPGA Tour continues to draw large crowds of enthusiastic galleries at every tournament.
[Photo by KLPGA]

This year, the KLPGA Tour is being held with 31 tournaments and a total prize money of approximately 33.2 billion KRW, the largest total prize money in history. The average prize money per tournament is about 1.07 billion KRW. The outlook for next year is hopeful. Competition for new tournaments is already fierce. Recently, Aurora World joined. It is the number one company in the domestic and UK toy markets. It has confirmed the hosting of the Aurora World Championship at Aurora Golf & Resort in Wonju, Gangwon Province, in July next year, with a total prize money of 1 billion KRW.

Domestic female players are giving up on overseas expansion as the conditions of the KLPGA Tour improve. They are not even attempting the challenge. Even if they advance to the U.S. Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour or the Japan Ladies Professional Golf Association (JLPGA) Tour, there is little left after taxes and expenses. They judge that enjoying wealth and fame domestically is better than overseas.

While domestic women's golf is receiving attention, the overseas situation is different. Since no "new blood" is being supplied, the competitiveness of Korean players on the LPGA Tour is rapidly declining. The downward trend started in 2020, when COVID-19 began. There were 7 wins each in 2020 and 2021, 4 wins in 2022, and only 5 wins last year. As of the 26th this year, there have been only 2 wins on the LPGA Tour. This is the worst record ever. Yang Hee-young and Yoo Hae-ran each secured one win. The era when Korean players were feared is coming to an end.

For golf to succeed, both the domestic tour and overseas tours must operate well together. It is uncertain how long the KLPGA Tour's popularity will last. The bubble may burst, causing popularity to drop sharply. If overseas results are poor, interest in domestic tournaments naturally declines. Relying only on the home ground will not yield great results. Players must challenge bigger stages. There is no need to fear failure. They are still young and can learn new things that money cannot buy.