Lee Jeong-eun 6 and Kim Se-young 'Participate'... Park In-bi and Ko Jin-young 'Decline'

May KLPGA Championship "Divergent Paths," Park Sung-hyun and Kim Hyo-joo "Still Contemplating"

Lee Jeong-eun 6, Kim Se-young, Park In-bi, Ko Jin-young (from left).

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] "Divergent paths."

These are the upcoming schedules of top players active on the U.S. Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour. It reflects their attitudes toward the Korean Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour major, the KLPGA Championship, which will open on the 14th of next month for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic. 'LPGA Rookie of the Year' Lee Jeong-eun6 (24, Daebang Construction) and 10-time champion Kim Se-young (27, Mirae Asset) will participate, while 'Golf Queen' Park In-bi (32, KB Financial Group) and world No. 1 Ko Jin-young (25) have chosen to decline.

Lee Jeong-eun6 and Kim Se-young, who are training domestically, conveyed to their management companies their intention to "participate in the KLPGA Championship." They believe that competing in the tournament is good for regaining form, but more importantly, showing their performance in the tournament is the best way to repay the support of their sponsoring companies and the cheers of golf fans. They also expressed their aspiration to "offer consolation and hope to the people exhausted by COVID-19 with splendid swings" and "donate the tournament prize money to COVID-19 relief funds."

Besides these two players, Park Sung-hyun (27) and Kim Hyo-joo (25, Lotte) are also considering participating in the KLPGA Championship. The KLPGA is welcoming the participation of these world stars, as "fan and media interest will increase." There is no problem with LPGA Tour players participating in the KLPGA Championship. Eligibility includes permanent cardholders, major winners in the past four years, tour winners in the past two years, players ranked within the top 60 in last year's money rankings, and players ranked within the top 30 in the world rankings.

On the other hand, Park In-bi and Ko Jin-young are expected to be hard to see at the event. Park In-bi said, "If I participate, one lower-seeded player will not be able to compete." Ko Jin-young explained, "I hope the opportunity goes to players in difficult circumstances," and added, "I will focus on preparing for the LPGA Tour, which will resume around June." The LPGA Tour is awaiting the Arkansas Championship, which opens on June 19.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.