Page 12 - Golf Champion Magazine - Korean English

[ FROM THE PUBLISHER ]

South Korean Female Golfers Indicate Moves

Towards the United States Significant Influx of

Players from Thailand and China

대한민국 여자 골프선수, 미국 진출 적신호

태국, 중국(계)선수들의 대거 진출

By Kyu Yang / Publisher

n recent years, there have been signals indicating the emer-
Igence of Korean female golfers in the United States, as play-
ers from Thailand and China have also made their presence
felt. In the 2023 LPGA season, Korean players secured victo-
ries only in the HSBC and HSBC Founder’s Cup tournaments
in March and May, with Ko Jin-young clinching both wins.
While foreign-born Korean players like Danielle Kang,
Lydia Ko, and Andrea Lee won tournaments in 2022, Kore-
an players overall have faced challenges in achieving strong
results in the LPGA. This is not due to a lack of skill among
Korean players, but rather the increasing presence of players
from China, the Philippines, Thailand, and European coun-
tries like Celine Boutier, which has led to intense competition.
Looking at this year’s LPGA winners, players from various
countries such as China, France, Thailand, and the United distances between venues, comfort, and reasonable prize
States have claimed victories, reflecting the diverse origins of money. However, LPGA tournaments in the US come with
the winners. The trend of Korean female golfers thriving do- extensive travel requirements. Moreover, if a player fails to
mestically and not necessarily pursuing competitions abroad make the cut, they are burdened with expenses including air-
can be attributed to the challenges associated with playing in fare, hotel costs, and caddy fees.
foreign LPGA tournaments. Even if a player makes the cut, finishing below the top 50
Participating in female professional golf tournaments in can make it difficult to cover the costs for the week, highlight-
Korea offers players enthusiastic fan support, shorter travel ing the financial challenges many players face. Sponsors be-
gan to diminish in women’s golf tournaments around 15 years
ago, prompting the LPGA to turn its attention towards Asia.
This led to the establishment of Asian tours involving coun-
tries such as Korea, Japan, Thailand, and China.
Even tournaments within the US pose challenges due to
long travel distances, time zone differences between the East
and West coasts, dietary adjustments, and language barriers,
especially when adding Asian and European countries to the
mix. As a result, the scope of women’s golf has expanded from
being primarily American to encompassing a global land-
scape.
Except for the top players, some foreign-born players often
rely on managers or acquaintances to help arrange flight and
hotel reservations for tournament travel. Those who do not

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