'Major Queen' Jeon In-ji: "My Next Goal Is the Career Grand Slam"

KPMG Women’s PGA Championship Major 3rd Win Hunt, Challenging Record at August AIG Women’s Open

Jeon In-ji is cheering while holding the trophy immediately after winning her third major of the season, the KPMG Women's PGA Championship. Bethesda (USA) = Getty Images / Multibits

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] ‘Challenge, Career Grand Slam’.

‘Flying Dumbo’ Jeon In-ji (28)’s next goal. On the 27th (Korean time), immediately after winning the third major of this season’s LPGA Tour, the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship (total prize money $9 million) by 1 stroke (5 under par 283) at the Blue Course (par 72, 6,894 yards) of Congressional Golf Club in Bethesda, Maryland, USA. This is her 4th career win after 3 years and 8 months since winning the KEB Hana Bank Championship in October 2018, with a winner’s prize of $1.35 million (1.7 billion KRW).

Jeon In-ji is a ‘major hunter.’ In 2015, she collected major championship trophies from the Korean LPGA (KLPGA) Tour, LPGA Tour, and Japan LPGA (JLPGA) Tour, setting a historic record as the first player to win majors on three tours in a single season. At that time, on the domestic stage, she won two majors including the Hite Championship and KB Financial Star Championship, and on overseas tours, she swept three majors including the US Women’s Open, Salonpas Cup, and Japan Women’s Open.

She won the US Women’s Open as a non-member, securing a ‘direct ticket to the LPGA Tour.’ In September 2016 at the Evian Championship, she posted a winning score of 21 under par 263. She created new history with the lowest scores in major 54 holes (194) and 72 holes (263), and the most under par in men’s and women’s majors (21 under). Jeon In-ji is also one step closer to the ‘Career Grand Slam,’ having won 4 of the 5 major championships in women’s golf worldwide.

Since the Evian Championship was elevated to major status in 2013, there are a total of five majors in women’s golf. Winning four of these tournaments is recognized as a Grand Slam. The upcoming AIG Women’s Open scheduled in Scotland this August is the first opportunity to achieve the ‘Career Grand Slam.’ Adding a trophy at the Chevron Championship next April would set a historic record. Among Korean players, the only one to have recorded a ‘Career Grand Slam’ is the ‘Golf Queen’ Park In-bi (34).

In this tournament, Jeon In-ji surged with 8 under par on the first day to take a 5-stroke lead, then posted 3 under par on the second day to extend the lead to 6 strokes. On the final day, although she was pushed to second place, 2 strokes behind Lexi Thompson (USA), she maintained her concentration until the end and achieved a ‘wire-to-wire’ victory. Jeon said, “Since I hadn’t won for 4 years, this victory means a lot,” and cheered, “I’m so happy to repay those who believed in me until the end with this win.”

Jeon, who said, “Having won 3 majors, I now have another goal,” added, “I will continue to challenge myself,” and expressed her determination, “I want to work hard to approach the new goal ahead of me.” Thompson, who faltered repeatedly in the decisive moments, was satisfied with runner-up (4 under par 284). ‘US Women’s Open champion’ Min-ji Lee (Australia) also tied for 2nd place. Korea’s Kim Hyo-joo (27), Kim Se-young (29), and Choi Hye-jin (23) tied for 5th place (1 under par 287).

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