‘Top 10’ Choi Hye-jin "This Time, Go for the Win"… ‘Number 2’ Koda Ready to Compete

At the LPGA Drive On Championship, 'Rookie Power' Challenges; Danielle Kang and Lydia Ko 'Absent', Park In-bee Seeks 'Redemption'

Rookie Choi Hye-jin challenges for the victory at the LPGA Drive On Championship.

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] LPGA rookie Choi Hye-jin (23, Lotte) is making a comeback to win.

On the night of the 4th (Korean time), the LPGA Drive On Championship, the third event of the 2022 LPGA Tour season with a total prize money of $1.5 million, will be held at Crown Colony Golf Club in Fort Myers, Florida, USA (par 72, 6,526 yards). This newly established tournament features 120 players competing over three days in stroke play to determine the winner. Tournament Champions champion Danielle Kang (USA) and Gainbridge champion Lydia Ko (New Zealand) have chosen to rest.

Choi Hye-jin is a player who has won a total of 10 titles on the Korean Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour, including 2 as an amateur. She swept both the Rookie of the Year and the Grand Prize in 2018, and in 2019, she dominated major individual titles such as most wins, prize money, the Grand Prize, and lowest scoring average. She showcased exceptional power by winning the Grand Prize for three consecutive years until 2020 but struggled last year with no titles. This is why she turned her attention to the LPGA Tour for a change of pace.

In December last year, she secured her ticket to the U.S. stage by finishing tied for 8th at the LPGA Tour Qualifying (Q) Series, and she made her debut last week at the Gainbridge LPGA. Over four days, she demonstrated stable skills and finished tied for 8th, the best result among rookies participating. Her impressive average driving distance of 260 yards and 28 putts per round stood out. She said, "I enjoyed playing in the U.S." and added, "I will work on my weaknesses and show good performance."

Nelly Korda aims to reclaim the 'Number 1' spot at the LPGA Drive On Championship.

Nelly Korda (USA) aims to reclaim the No. 1 spot. After finishing tied for 7th at the season opener Tournament of Champions and tied for 20th at the Gainbridge LPGA, she lost the world No. 1 ranking she had held for three months to Ko Jin-young (27). She is currently second by a margin of 0.003 points. Although the 2022 season winners are not participating, strong contenders such as Yuka Saso, who finished 3rd at Gainbridge, Nasa Hataoka (both from Japan), Brooke Henderson (Canada), and Lexi Thompson (USA) are all entered.

For Korea, it is about restoring the honor of Park In-bee (34, KB Financial Group). Last week, she suffered the humiliation of missing the cut for the first time in 1 year and 3 months since the ShopRite Classic in October 2020. It is urgent for her to regain her precise iron shots and clutch putting ability. Lee Jeong-eun6 (26, Daebang Construction), Jeon In-ji (28, KB Financial Group), An Na-rin (26, Mediheal), and Yang Hee-young (33, Woori Financial Group) have joined the field. Ko Jin-young, Kim Sei-young (29, Mediheal), and Kim Hyo-joo (27, Lotte) are absent.

Inbee Park has embarked on a quest for redemption at the LPGA Drive On Championship.

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