'Number 1' Ko Jin-young Returns Home "Will Not Attend January Opening Diamond Resort"

[Asia Economy Reporter Noo Rae] 'Number 1' Ko Jin-young (25, photo) will not participate in the season opener next January.

Her management company, SEMASports Marketing, announced on the 26th, "Ko Jin-young will return to Korea on the evening of the 27th," and "She has decided not to play in the LPGA Tour season opener next month." They added, "Due to airport quarantine procedures related to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), no interviews will be conducted." Ko Jin-young stayed in Korea this year due to the impact of COVID-19 and made a late return to the field last month at the Pelican Women's Championship.

In particular, she demonstrated her strength by winning the 2020 season finale CME Group Tour Championship (total prize money $3 million) by 5 strokes (18-under 270) at Tiburon Golf Club (par 72) in Naples, Florida, USA, which ended on the 21st. This was her 7th career victory, her first in 1 year and 4 months since winning the CP Women's Open last August. Despite playing only four tournaments, she earned $1.1 million (1.21 billion KRW) in prize money, showcasing her power as the 'money queen' with total earnings of $1,667,925.

The LPGA Tour held a 'mini season' with no spectators this year, playing only 18 of the originally scheduled 33 tournaments due to the global spread of COVID-19. Korea contributed 7 wins, including 3 majors, continuing its record as the top winner nation for six consecutive years since 2015. Ko Jin-young ranked first in prize money, and Kim Sei-young (27, Mirae Asset) was named Player of the Year. The LPGA Tour will start the new season on January 21 next year with the Diamond Resorts Tournament held in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA.

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