'Best friends' Park In-bi and Yoo So-yeon "Perfect harmony in this team match"

Challenging for Victory at the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational, Ji Eun-hee and Kim Hyo-joo Team Up, Corda and Jutanugarn Sisters as 'Dark Horses'

Inbee Park (right) and So-yeon Ryu are challenging for the championship in the team event at the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational.

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] "This time, perfect harmony."

Best friends Park In-bi (33, KB Financial Group) and Yoo So-yeon (31, Mediheal) are challenging for the team match victory. The US Women's Professional Golf (LPGA) Tour Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational (DGLBI, total prize money $2.3 million), held on the night of the 14th (Korean time) at Midland Golf Course in Michigan, USA (par 70, 6,256 yards), is the battleground. It is the only two-player team event on the LPGA Tour, modeled after the PGA Tour Zurich Classic.

The first tournament was held in 2019, and last year it was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The defending champions are Jasmine Suwannapura (Thailand) and Sydnee Clanton (USA) from the 2019 event. A total of 72 teams, 144 players, compete over four days in formats of foursomes (two players alternate playing one ball) and fourballs (two players each play their own ball, and the better score counts). Although it is a team event, winners receive seeds, prize money, and CME points.

Park In-bi and Yoo So-yeon represent Korean women's golf. Park In-bi has won 21 career titles, including 7 majors. She is a 'career golden slammer' with victories in the four major championships plus an Olympic gold medal. Yoo So-yeon has 6 career wins, including 2 majors. The two players are well known for their close friendship. They are strong in team matches and have experience competing against Lydia Ko (New Zealand) and Pernilla Lindberg (Sweden) in last year's screen golf match play.

Ji Eun-hee (35, Hanwha Q Cells) and Kim Hyo-joo (26, Lotte) have teamed up again following the inaugural tournament. They finished tied for 6th place two years ago. Korea also fields pairs from the same agency: Lee Jeong-eun 6 (25) and Hur Mi-jung (32, Daebang Construction), Choi Woon-jung (31) and Lee Mi-hyang (28, Volvik). Jeon In-ji (27, KB Financial Group) partners with Brooke Henderson (Canada). Lexi Thompson (USA) and Nasa Hataoka (Japan), Minjee Lee (Australia) and Yuka Saso (Philippines), Danielle Kang (USA) and Lydia Ko (New Zealand) are dark horses.

Sisters Nelly and Jessica Korda (USA) are strong favorites to win. Nelly has swept 3 wins this year, including the major KPMG Women's PGA Championship. She ranks first in wins, prize money, scoring average, Player of the Year, and CME Globe Race. Jessica is a leading American star with 6 career wins, including this year's season opener Diamond Resort victory. Thai sisters Ariya and Moriya Jutanugarn have also formed a team. They finished tied for 3rd in their first year, living up to their reputations.

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