Rising Star Ye Won Lee Prefers Japan Over the US

Three Wins This Year, Leading All Categories Including Prize Money and Player of the Year
Australian Off-Season Circuit Training and Misutgaru Boost Performance
"After Becoming the Best in Korea, I Aim to Compete on the Japan Tour"

Ye Won Lee herself was surprised. She cannot help but smile at her own achievements on this year’s Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour. She has claimed three victories in the eight tournaments she has participated in this year. She currently leads in all major categories, including wins, prize money, Player of the Year points, and scoring average.

In an interview with Asia Economy on May 29, Ye Won Lee said, "I didn't expect to win three times this early," and added with a smile, "Right now, I am enjoying the tournaments while being satisfied with my play."

Rising Star Ye Won Lee Prefers Japan Over the US

Ye Won Lee established herself as a rising star early in the KLPGA Tour this year by securing three victories. KLPGA

Ye Won Lee debuted on the regular tour in 2021 after finishing seventh on the Dream (second division) Tour money list. This year marks her fourth season. In 2022, she won the Rookie of the Year award, and in 2023, she claimed three victories, including a major at the Hite Jinro Championship. She lifted three trophies last year as well, bringing her total to nine wins over the past three years. She said, "I have always performed well in the first half of the season, but my results tended to taper off in the second half," emphasizing, "This year, my goal is to maintain consistent performance throughout the entire year."

Ye Won Lee focused on improving her stamina and short game through winter training camp in Australia last winter. KLPGA

Last winter, Ye Won Lee focused on improving her physical strength during off-season training in Australia. To address the inconsistency in her results during the season due to declining stamina, she completed physical training three times a week. In the evenings, she dedicated an hour to circuit training targeting different muscle groups. This method involves repeating a variety of high-intensity exercises in a short period, which is effective for building strength and explosiveness.

The training did not end there. After circuit training, she ran 3 kilometers in a park every other day. To increase her body weight, she consistently consumed misutgaru in the morning and evening. She chose a 40g misutgaru product with added protein to help increase muscle mass. Ye Won Lee said, "Last year, I wasn't able to do much weight training, but this time I worked really hard," adding, "I can feel my stamina has improved, and I think I’ve gained a bit of weight."

The results of her training were evident from the start of the season. Last month, she won the season-opening Doosan Construction We’ve Championship, and on May 11, she achieved her first-ever back-to-back victories at the NH Investment & Securities Ladies Championship. Notably, at the Doosan Match Play Championship on May 18, she proved her worth by becoming the "Match Queen," enduring seven rounds over five days. She explained, "I felt less fatigued throughout the tournament compared to last year," attributing it to her physical training.

Ye Won Lee gained 3 kg by eating misutgaru with added protein. KLPGA

Her driving distance has also increased. She said, "I haven't measured it exactly, but I am using a shorter club for my second shots compared to last year," and added, "I can now cover the same distance with 70% of my power, whereas before it took 80%." Her short game and recovery skills, which she focused on during off-season training, have also improved, and her putting has been particularly impressive. Her average number of putts per round is 28.4167. Ye Won Lee showed humility, saying, "I didn't realize my putting was that good, but I think I was able to sink important putts at crucial moments."

She continued, "Last year, I also had three wins in the first half, but I couldn't add any more in the second half because my stamina dropped. This year, I feel much less exhausted than last year, and as long as I can get through the summer heat, I think I'll be fine," expressing her confidence.

Unlike last year, when she had to share the most wins title, this year her goal is to become the sole leader in wins. She said, "If the opportunity arises, I also want to break the single-season prize money record." The current record is 1,521,370,000 won, held by Minji Park, while Ye Won Lee earned 1,424,810,000 won in 2023.

Ye Won Lee is aiming to become the sole leader in wins this year and to break the record for the highest single-season prize money. KLPGA

Ye Won Lee is cautious about playing overseas. She said, "I don't have any plans to play abroad yet. I wanted to compete in the US Women's Open, but I gave it up because this week's tournament (Sh Suhyup Bank MBN Women's Open) is the one where I am the defending champion," and added, "For now, I want to further develop my skills in Korea and try challenging myself abroad in a few years." She continued, "Rather than the US, I am considering challenging the Japan Tour first. When I played in Japan last year, I performed well and liked the courses. The proximity also makes it attractive, as I can participate in Korean tournaments at the same time."