Veteran Lee Dong-min leaps 236 spots in world ranking to 648th place

Dong-A Membership Group Open Victory Points Earned
No PGA Tour Events, Maintains 'Top 10' Position
Im Sung-jae 22nd, Kim Joo-hyung 25th, An Byeong-hoon 27th

Veteran Lee Dong-min has jumped to 648th in the world rankings.

Lee Dong-min is cheering immediately after winning the Dong-A Membership Group Open. Photo by KPGA

In the men's golf weekly world rankings announced on the 4th (local time), he earned 0.18 points, leaping 236 places from 884th last week. He accumulated points by winning the Dong-A Membership Group Open (total prize money 700 million KRW) held last week at Jangsu Golf Resort in Jangsu-gun, Jeonbuk. This is his third career win in 3 years and 5 months since the Descente Korea Munsingwear Match Play in June 2021, and he received a winner's prize of 140 million KRW.

Lee Dong-min was born in 1985 and is 39 years old this year. On the final day of the Dong-A Membership Group Open, he played in the same group as rookie Song Min-hyuk, born in 2004, who is 19 years younger. Right after his victory, Lee said, "My shot feeling was good all week, so I had many birdie opportunities. Today, even some long putts went in well, allowing me to take the early momentum." He added, "I was worried because I had been struggling this year, but this win has blown all that away. I wasn't mentally prepared to win again, but I have reached the top after more than three years."

He said, "I am not young as a player, and due to this year's slump, my confidence in competing with younger players had dropped, but this win has restored my belief in myself, and I think I can play confidently next year. I will also prepare well for next week's season finale, the Tour Championship, and want to finish the season with good results."

There were no changes in the top rankings last week as there were no PGA Tour events. Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele (both USA), Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland), Collin Morikawa (USA), and Ludvig Aberg (Sweden) were in the ‘Top 5’. Korea’s Im Sung-jae ranked 22nd, Kim Joo-hyung 25th, An Byeong-hun 27th, and Kim Si-woo 53rd. KPGA Player of the Year Jang Yoo-bin rose one spot from 135th to 134th last week.