"Strong on Domestic Stage" Kim Hyo-joo "Winning Probability as High as 50%?"

Sweeping Individual Titles Last Year with 2 Wins, This Year Secures 2 Wins at Park Seri Invitational and Seoul Economic Ladies

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] "Winning probability is as high as 50%."

‘LPGA Tour member’ Kim Hyo-joo (26, Lotte·photo) has swept 2 wins in 4 domestic tournaments this season. Following the OK Savings Bank Park Seri Invitational in September, she secured her second victory at the SK Networks·Seoul Economic Ladies Classic, held on the 31st of last month at Pinx Golf Club (par 72) in Seogwipo, Jeju Island. She placed 6th at the KB Financial Star Championship and tied for 30th at the BMW Ladies Championship, co-hosted with the LPGA Tour.

It is interesting that Kim Hyo-joo swept individual titles last year on the KLPGA Tour, including most wins (2), prize money (799.14 million KRW), and lowest scoring average (69.57), while focusing on the KLPGA Tour due to the impact of COVID-19. This was during a slump period on the LPGA Tour. She topped the leaderboard at the Lotte Cantata Ladies Open in June and the major KB Financial Star Championship in October. She is particularly strong on domestic courses. This year, she returned to the LPGA Tour and won her 4th career victory at the HSBC Women's event in May, her first LPGA win in 5 years and 3 months since the 2016 Bahamas Classic.

Attention should be paid to her clutch winning birdie on the 17th hole (par 3) green on the final day of the Seoul Economic Ladies Classic, made with a putter from off the green. Kim Hyo-joo said, "I knew I was co-leader, not sole leader," and revealed her hunter instinct, "The 17th hole had a steep downhill slope, but I played with the mindset to definitely make a birdie." She added, "I was lucky," and reflected, "I made many mistakes, but I immediately followed up with shots to recover."

The next mission is naturally to add more LPGA Tour wins. Of her 4 career wins, 3 were in France, the Bahamas, and Singapore. Her only win on the U.S. mainland was the Founders Cup in March 2015. After briefly recharging her energy, she will head to the U.S. to compete in the CME Group Tour Championship (total prize money $5 million), opening on the 18th at Tiburon Golf Club (par 72) in Naples, Florida. Kim Hyo-joo raised expectations, saying, "I feel like I’m finally getting used to it," and "I wonder if I can do even better going forward."

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