Sh Suhyup Bank MBN Women's Open Champion
Perfect Results from Putting Practice and Grip Adjustment
Gifts for Parents, Gratitude for Fan Club Support
"I Want to Prove Myself in Overseas Tournaments"
When she let go of her expectations, the results followed. This is the story of Yoonji Jung on the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour. On June 1, she claimed a wire-to-wire victory at the Sh Suhyup Bank MBN Women's Open. It was her first win in three years, coming 87 tournaments after her maiden victory at the 2022 E1 Charity Open.
In a recent interview with Asia Economy, Yoonji Jung said, "During the three years without a win, I was too hard on myself. I received a lot of support, so I always felt sorry for not being able to win," and added, "What made the difference was not obsessing over results and focusing on finding my own play. I think enjoying the game led to this victory."
Yoonji Jung ended a three-year victory drought at the Sh Suhyup Bank MBN Women's Open. Photo by KLPGA
Yoonji Jung, a former national team member, stood out as an amateur. At the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games, she won a silver medal in the team event alongside Hae Ran Ryu and Hee Jeong Lim. Since debuting on the KLPGA Tour in 2020, she has drawn attention with her precise shots and consistent performances, and in 2022, she achieved her long-awaited first win. Her skills are comparable to those of Hae Ran Ryu, currently ranked No. 5 in the world with three LPGA Tour victories, and Hee Jeong Lim, who has five career wins including two domestic majors.
However, starting in 2023, she began to struggle, particularly with putting. Since her debut, her average number of putts per round had never fallen below 30. This year was no different. Up to the Sh Suhyup Bank MBN Women's Open, her average number of putts in 10 tournaments was 31.
The change began in March. She adjusted her practice ratio to 50:50 between shots and putting, and focused on putting practice for two hours every day. Yoonji Jung said, "I realized how serious my putting was and started practicing. It didn't improve overnight, but as I kept working on it steadily, it started to show results."
Yoonji Jung solved green problems and reached the top through rigorous putting training. Photo by KLPGA
Her practice was also carried out step by step. At first, she focused on rhythm, but soon realized there was a bigger problem: her head was moving a lot during her putts. "When my head moved, the putter head would open or close, leading to many mistakes. So I practiced keeping my head still," she explained. She added, "My green play is still not perfect. I think this is just one step in the process of reaching the light toward victory."
Starting with the E1 Charity Open on May 23, she also changed her grip, opting for a cross-handed grip. "Compared to my previous grip, my alignment is better, and my putts, which I used to force with my hands, now feel smoother," she said with a smile. "I was happy to see good results just two weeks after changing my grip." She continued, "Using the reverse grip has improved my direction, but it's not perfect yet. I will keep practicing steadily and work to maintain my skills."
After her victory, she had a whirlwind of busy days. She visited the broadcasting company that hosted the tournament and expressed her gratitude to her main sponsor, NH Investment & Securities. Next week, she is scheduled to visit the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation and other tournament sponsors. "I received so many congratulatory calls and messages. I was so busy that I barely noticed the days passing," she shared.
Yoonji Jung is a warm-hearted player. On June 3, she went to a department store with her parents and older sister to treat them with her 180 million won prize money. "I told them I would buy them whatever they wanted, but my father only picked out a T-shirt, and my mother chose only inexpensive items," she said with a laugh. "I bought myself a tracksuit, a cap, and a SHINee album."
Her goal is to "enjoy golf." "I've decided to stop being so hard on myself," she said. "I want to enjoy golf and daily life with a more relaxed mindset." She also expressed gratitude to her fans. "I'm introverted, so I can't communicate actively with the fan club, but I always read the posts on the fan cafe," she said. "It gives me great strength. I always hold a grateful heart."
She also dreams of a bigger stage. In February, she competed internationally at the Ladies European Tour (LET) Aramco Saudi Ladies International and the Taiwan Ladies Professional Golf Association (TLPGA) season opener, the Foxconn Players Championship. "So far, I've only played in two overseas tournaments: the Aramco event and the Taiwan tournament. I want to gain more experience," she said. "If my world ranking rises, I can test my skills on the U.S. or Japan tours. I want to take on that challenge."
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