Yoo So-yeon's 'Generous Donation'... "Donates Entire 250 Million Won Prize Money~"

Yoo So-yeon is giving an interview immediately after winning the Korea Women's Open. Photo by Korea Women's Open

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] "The 250 million won prize money will be donated to the COVID-19 relief fund."

This is Yoo So-yeon (30, Mediheal)'s generous donation. Right after winning the KIA Motors Korea Women's Open (total prize money 1 billion won) on the KLPGA Tour, which ended on the 21st at Bears Best Cheongna Golf Club in Incheon (par 72, 6,929 yards), she announced, "I will use the entire prize money to fight the novel coronavirus (COVID-19)." She explained, "Last night, I prayed that if I won, I would donate the prize money," adding, "Having a good cause as a goal motivated me to work even harder."

Yoo So-yeon said, "Actually, the KLPGA Tour currently underway is a bonus," adding, "Because it is a stage created through the efforts of many people during the difficult times of COVID-19." She has already donated the prize money from all the tournaments she has participated in this year. Half of the prize money for her joint second place at the LPGA Tour ISPS Handa Vic Open in February (90,049 dollars) was sent to the Australian bushfire relief fund, and the following week she added the prize money from the ISPS Handa Australian Women's Open.

For Yoo So-yeon, this victory was especially meaningful as it completed a sweep of five national titles. She previously won the China Women's Open in 2009, the US Women's Open in 2011, the Canadian Women's Open in 2014, and the Japan Women's Open in 2018. This also served as a "redemption" after finishing runner-up in 2008 following a playoff battle with Shin Ji-ae (32). She expressed her ambition, saying, "Next, I want to add the British Women's Open title to complete the national titles in the UK."

Yoo So-yeon reflected, "Last year without a win was very tough." After winning the LPGA Tour Meijer Classic in June 2018 and the JLPGA Tour Japan Women's Open in September, she endured over a year without a title. She confessed, "My ball control was off, and my distance decreased," explaining, "This was why I emptied my mind while preparing for 2020." She also shared her future plans, saying, "These days, I am very interested in related industries such as course design and golf apparel."

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