Lee Gayoung: "Now I Feel Calm Even in Playoffs"

Wire-to-wire victory at the Celltrion Queens Masters
Silencing criticism of "lacking finishing power," now with a 2-1 playoff record
Aiming for the global stage by raising her world ranking

Lee Gayoung once carried the unfortunate label of "lacking finishing power." She would often compete for the lead through the third round, only to falter in the final round.

However, things have changed. On June 8, at the Celltrion Queens Masters on the KLPGA Tour, held at Seongmunan Country Club (par 72) in Wonju, Gangwon Province, she held the top spot on the leaderboard for all three days and claimed a wire-to-wire victory. This was her first win of the season and the third of her career.

Lee Gayoung, who previously lacked stamina, has now transformed into a clutch player in overtime. Photo by KLPGA

In a recent interview with Asia Economy, Lee said with a smile, "By playing in many tournaments, I am learning a lot of different things," and added, "As I gain more experience, I think I'm able to play consistently well."

She is now also recognized as a strong player in playoffs, which is further evidence of her improved finishing ability. Her playoff record stands at two wins and one loss. In the 2021 McCall·Monapark Open, she narrowly lost to Kim Haelim, but at last year's Lotte Open, she secured her first playoff victory by defeating Yoon Ina and Choi Yerim. At this year's Celltrion Queens Masters, she achieved her second consecutive playoff win by beating Han Jinsun and Kim Sihyun.

Lee Gayoung is continuously correcting her swing to hit the old-style draw shot. Photo by KLPGA

She said, "Playoffs make me more nervous than usual," and added, "During my first playoff, I was so nervous that I couldn't think straight, but after my second win, I felt much more at ease. This time, I wasn't very nervous at all," showing her confidence.

Lee Gayoung is the epitome of consistency. Since debuting on the KLPGA Tour in 2019, she has continued to perform impressively for seven years. This year, she currently ranks third on the money list (417.98 million won), sixth in Player of the Year points (169 points), and fourteenth in scoring average (70.70 strokes).

"Thanks to off-season training, my driving distance has increased and my short game has improved. I think that's why I was able to win sooner than expected."

Recently, she has been focusing on regaining her old draw shot (which curves from right to left). She explained, "I used to play a draw, but as my swing improved, my shot shape straightened out and I started hitting fades. That made me less confident in my shots, so I decided to go back to the draw. After regaining my original shot shape, my feel for the shot improved and I started getting more birdie opportunities. I now have confidence in my shots."

Gayoung Lee is impressive with her calm play and bright smile. Photo by KLPGA

Her calm demeanor and warm personality are also among her strengths. She actively communicates with her fans. Her fan club, "Gayoung Donghwa," has more than 1,000 members.

Her ability to control her mind has also grown. She said, "I try not to get angry as much as possible, but since I'm human, it's inevitable at times. When that happens, I try to calm myself by thinking about good memories or something completely different."

She also shared her method for staying focused in the heat. "It's important to drink water frequently in small amounts. When moving between holes or waiting for my turn to tee off, I always make sure to eat fruit. I especially like bananas, kiwis, and grapes."

She also has a strong desire to compete on bigger stages. Last year, by winning the KLPGA Tour Lotte Open, she earned a spot at the LPGA Tour Lotte Championship. "After playing on the LPGA stage, I learned a lot. It was a great opportunity to grow as a golfer. If I perform well in Korea, my world ranking will rise, so I want to use that as a foundation to test my skills in overseas tournaments."

Gayoung Lee has a dream of experiencing a big stage by improving her insufficient putting skills. Photo by KLPGA

Her goal for this year is "two wins." She plans to secure one victory in the first half of the season and another in the second half. She said, "I've always been confident in my iron shots, but I've had many regrets about my putting. I want to improve my weaknesses and achieve more victories. I will stay focused on the remaining tournaments," she pledged.