LPGA's '20s' Opponent to Japan, Sisters in Their 30s Come Up

LPGA's '20s' Opponent to Japan, Sisters in Their 30s Come Up

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"Korea's power," which had been slowing down for a while in the LPGA tour, is gradually reviving. "They are in their 30s." They are reestablishing their pride in Asia, which could have been lost to Japan.온라인카지노

Recently, Korean women's golf has slowed down a bit in the LPGA stage. Last year, Yang Hee-young (36), Yoo Hae-ran (24), and Kim A-rim (30) teamed up to secure three wins. This was the smallest number of wins Koreans have acquired since 2011. In 2015, 2017, and 2019, the female golfer posted 15 wins each, but has entered a downward trend with only four wins in 2022, five wins in 2023, and three wins in 2024.

It is different this year. In less than half of the season, Kim has already won three games. In February, Kim won the "Wire to Wire" title at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions, the opening game of the LPGA Tour, and Kim Hyo-joo (30) lifted the trophy at the Ford Championship in March. In May, Yoo Hae-ran won the Black Desert Championship, making her third Korean victory.

There was no victory in the ShopRite LPGA Classic, which ended on the 9th, but Koreans' strength stood out. Lee Il-hee, 37, who was born in 1988, became the runner-up for the first time in 10 years since the Mizuno Classic in November 2014, and Kim Se-young, 30, ranked third by banking on her last-round hole-in-one (17th hole). She has overtaken Japanese players such as Takeda Rio (2nd) and Saigo Mao (3rd), who are among the top earners of the LPGA tour this season.

Japanese players are still strong. Saigo (24) of last year's Rookie of the Year and Takeda (22), the No. 1 player in points for this year's Rookie of the Year, are both ranked first and second in LPGA Player of the Year. This year's Japanese wins are also on par with Korea with three wins. Takeda lifted the trophy at the Blue Bay LPGA in March, and Saigo won the Chevron Championship in April. The younger twin sister, Iwai Zisato (23), won the Mexican Open in May. They are all young players in their 20s.

This is a young Japanese team versus a Korean veteran in his 30s. The trend of "women's golf between Korea and Japan" is expected to continue in future competitions. Attention is focusing on how far the power of Koreans in their 30s can continue.