Yoo Hyunjo Achieves Second Consecutive Major Win: "I Want to Be Like Ko Jin Young"

Passed Seed Ranking in 5th Place, Named Rookie of the Year Last Year: An Elite Golfer
Focused on Fitness and Mental Training in the Off-Season, Reaping the Rewards with Victory
Short Game Mentor Ahn Siyun, a Champion in Both Korea and the US
Aiming to Become the Best in Korea and Ultimately Reach the Top on the US Stage

The flower of a top prospect has fully bloomed. The protagonist is Yoo Hyunjo, now in her second year on the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour. Born in 2005, she is now 20 years old. On September 7, at Blackstone Icheon (par 72) in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province, she achieved her second consecutive victory at the major KB Financial Star Championship, which has a total prize fund of 1.5 billion won. Yoo Hyunjo is the first rookie in KLPGA Tour history to win a major championship and then defend her title at the same event the following year. Additionally, her back-to-back victories at this tournament mark the first time in eight years since Kim Hae Rim accomplished the feat in 2016 and 2017.

In an interview with Asia Economy on September 11, Yoo Hyunjo shyly smiled and said, "I was extremely nervous for my first win, and the second win was also meaningful. I want to praise myself." She added, "Winning is never easy, but my recent shots and putting have been solid. I am determined to achieve even better results." This year, Yoo Hyunjo has competed in 20 tournaments, recording one victory and finishing in the top 10 thirteen times. She ranks first in Player of the Year points (482 points) and scoring average (69.70 strokes), and is third on the money list with 983.33 million won.

Yoo Hyunjo dreams of advancing to the American stage after becoming the top player in the domestic tour. Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association

She was an exceptional player from the very beginning. She started playing golf at the age of 10. "I picked up a golf club at my parents' suggestion. They saw how interested I was in golf and gave me their full support," she said, expressing her gratitude. In 2023, Yoo Hyunjo won a silver medal in the team event and a bronze medal in the individual event at the Hangzhou Asian Games. That same November, she finished fifth in the KLPGA Regular Tour Seed Ranking Finals, and last year she was named KLPGA Tour Rookie of the Year. "So far, things have gone smoothly for me," she said, "but I will continue to work hard without becoming arrogant."

After achieving her second consecutive major victory, Yoo Hyunjo received many congratulatory messages. Her phone was buzzing to the point that the battery ran out. "I am always just grateful. The congratulatory texts and calls give me a lot of strength," she said. Right after her win, her schedule became even busier. She attended classes at Korea National Sport University and headed to the practice range with her caddie bag. She trained at 88 Country Club, Shinan Country Club, and Suwon Country Club. "Practice is the answer. If I don't train, I don't think I can achieve good results."

Hyunjo Yoo is learning putting and short game from Ansihyun, who has winning experience in both the United States and Korea. KLPGA

She is seeing the clear benefits of her winter training camp in New Zealand. Her focus on physical, core, and balance training paid off. She joined the academy camp run by professional Kwon Kitaek. Alongside other KLPGA Tour players such as Ko Jiwoo, Kim Nayoung, Seo Gyolim, and Park Yeji, she put in a lot of hard work. "After my first year, I realized the importance of physical strength," Yoo Hyunjo explained. "During the off-season, I focused on building my fitness."

She is the type of player who constantly learns to improve her weaknesses. Her short game coach is Ahn Siyun, who recorded one win on the LPGA Tour and two on the KLPGA Tour before retiring in 2021. "My putting and approach shots are still lacking. To achieve good results, I need to excel at the short game. I am learning a lot from professional Ahn Siyun."

Her favorite player is Ko Jin Young, the former world number one. Ko Jin Young is a top-tier player with 12 wins in Korea and 15 in the United States. Yoo Hyunjo said, "I don't have a specific role model, but I really like professional Ko Jin Young. Her iron shots are excellent, and her mental strength seems very strong." She added, "I am impressed by how she overcomes difficulties and rises again. Although Ko Jin Young hasn't won this year, I believe she will soon return to her previous form," she said in support.

Yoo Hyunjo said he wants to resemble Ko Jinyoung, who is ranked number one in the world, in both play and mental strength. KLPGA

Her goal for the remainder of the season is to add another major championship trophy. The KLPGA Tour has one last major left this year, the Hite Jinro Championship, which will be held on September 25 with a total prize fund of 1.5 billion won. Yoo Hyunjo smiled and said, "I've wanted to win the Hite Jinro Championship since I was an amateur. I really want to do the ceremony of pouring beer into the trophy and drinking it."

She is dreaming of an even bigger stage. She is eager to reach the top of the LPGA Tour, where the best players in the world compete. After participating in the US Women's Open in June, she was captivated by the appeal of the world's top-level tour. "I still have many areas to improve. I need to learn more," she said, expressing her ambition. "I want to further develop my skills in Korea for another one or two years before advancing to the United States."

Yoo Hyunjo attributed her outstanding performance this year to physical training. KLPGA

Yoo Hyunjo said, "It's important to play without wavering under intense pressure. To succeed on the big stage, I need to further strengthen my focus in critical moments." Describing herself as "a rather shy type," she added, "I want to become a player who has a positive influence on the golf world."