[Newstart New Challenge] Yi Yullin, Top Passer, "I Must Win This Year"

Ranked First in Qualifying, Lee Yoolrin Returns to KLPGA Tour
With Help from Coach Kim Hyedong, Overcomes Driver Yips
Early Departure to Thailand for Intensive Training, Focusing on Short Game
"I Will Not Repeat My Mistakes and Aim for Happy Golf"

The look in her eyes is different.

That is the determination of Lee Yoolrin, who passed the Korean Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour qualifying tournament as the top scorer last November. On the 16th, she left for Evergreen Hills Golf Resort in Kanchanaburi, Thailand, planning to focus on training until February 18.

In a recent interview with Asia Economy, Lee Yoolrin said, "This year, I will not repeat the mistakes of the past two years. I want to repay everyone who has supported me with a victory."

Lee Yoolin's goal for this year is to collect championship trophies. She is focusing on practicing the short game, which she believes is the most lacking during her training camp in Thailand.

Lee Yoolrin is a player who has followed an elite path. Having been a national team member in 2020 and 2021, her powerful swing generated from her 169cm height and her long drives averaging over 260 yards are her strengths. After joining the KLPGA Tour in 2022, she passed the qualifying tournament in 5th place and debuted on the regular tour, but her first-year performance was disappointing. She made it to the final rounds only 9 times out of 29 tournaments and lost her tour card, ranking 93rd in the prize money standings.

Afterward, determined to make a fierce comeback in Muan, Jeollanam-do, she re-entered the tour as the runner-up in the 2022 qualifying tournament but still ranked only 65th in prize money in 2023. Early-season struggles were particularly problematic. Until September, she missed the cut 16 times out of 21 tournaments and suffered from the "driver yips." She couldn't even swing properly on the teeing ground but did not give up. After overcoming the yips in four months, she made the cut in a major tournament in October and showed potential by finishing as runner-up at the last event, the Deoksin EPC·Seoul Economic Daily Ladies Classic.

Lee Yoolin is taking a commemorative photo after passing first in the KLPGA Tour seed ranking competition last November. Photo by KLPGA

However, she failed to break into the top 60 in the prize money rankings and had to compete in the qualifying tournament for the second consecutive year. This time, she succeeded in making a comeback by returning to the regular tour as the overall first-place winner. Lee Yoolrin smiled and said, "The pressure of the qualifying tournament was great, but I am happy that the results followed the preparation. I want to praise myself."

In November 2023, Lee Yoolrin changed her registered name from ‘Lee Jihyun7’ to her current name. She explained, "There were many players with the same name on the KLPGA Tour, which caused confusion, and I also had the intention to change my common name."

Lee Yoolin's strength lies in her powerful long drives that can exceed 260 yards. Photo by KLPGA

After finishing last season, Lee Yoolrin focused on physical training in Korea to prepare for the new season. During the training camp in Thailand, she has been concentrating on perfecting her body and mind for five weeks. By her side is Coach Kim Hye-dong, who has been supporting her since June 2023. Coach Kim is a former player who once hit drives of 330 yards and was known as the longest hitter on the Korean Professional Golfers' Association (KPGA) Tour. Lee Yoolrin revealed that meeting Coach Kim was a major turning point in her golf career. She recalled, "I talked a lot with Coach Kim and came to accept that I had the yips, and to overcome it, I relearned every swing from the beginning." She added, "It was a very tough and difficult process, but I immersed myself in correcting my swing as if it were the last chance in my golf life."

Currently, during the training camp in Thailand, she is enhancing her shot accuracy and short game skills. She is especially focusing on practicing various shot shapes suited to domestic terrain and approach techniques. Lee Yoolrin said, "I want to show my own golf style through more aggressive play."

Lee Yoolin is posing at Kanchanaburi Evergreen Hills Golf Resort, the training site in Thailand.

This year, a bigger opportunity for advancement has also been created. Lee Yoolrin signed a sponsorship contract with Doosan Construction We’ve Golf Team. The golf team includes strong KLPGA Tour players such as Lim Hee-jeong, Park Gyeol, Yoo Hyo-ju, Kim Min-sol, and Yoo Hyun-joo. She said, "It is an honor to be with such excellent players, and I think it will be an important turning point in my golf career."

The player Lee Yoolrin respects the most is Park In-bi. She was impressed by Park overcoming swing difficulties and becoming the first Asian player to achieve a career Grand Slam. She emphasized, "I also want to be a player who wins the battle with herself like Pro Park In-bi." Lee Yoolrin’s goal is to be the best in the world. She smiled and said, "I want to advance to the U.S. Tour and play golf in various places."

Lee Yoolrin, who ranked first in last year's qualifying round, has met a new sponsor. He expressed his determination, saying, "I will repay everyone who supported me with a victory." Photo by Doosan Construction