‘Hanwha Classic Champ’ Hong Ji-won’s Contrarian Thought: “I Was Actually Less Nervous Because the Course Was Difficult”

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Hong Ji-won is holding the trophy and posing for a commemorative photo immediately after winning the Hanwha Classic. Photo by KLPGA

[Chuncheon (Gangwon Province) = Reporter Lee Seo-hee] At the moment her fourth shot on the 16th hole (par 4) slightly missed, a sigh of regret burst out among the gallery. However, her expression remained calm. Although she appeared tense just before the shot, she did not look back after swinging the club.

This is the story of Hong Ji-won (22), who won the KLPGA Tour major Hanwha Classic held at Jade Palace Golf Club in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, on the 28th. We heard from the ‘strong-hearted’ Hong Ji-won, who claimed victory by surpassing top players on the ‘Devil’s Course.’

- We saw you joking and laughing with your caddie during the game.

▶ Since the course was tricky, I actually felt less nervous. I thought it would be hard for anyone to even make par this year. So I decided to ‘just relax’ and played while joking around with my caddie, and I think that worked well.

- You placed third in last year’s Hanwha Classic. What is your secret to being strong on this course?

▶ I’m not an aggressive player. I tend to play conservatively and precisely, and I think this strength of mine matched well with the course’s many variables. Also, trying to stay positive by telling myself ‘it will go well’ helped a lot.

- Did you expect to win?

▶ I imagined it a lot, but I never dreamed I would actually win a major tournament like this. Even when I was hitting my third shot on the final hole, it didn’t feel real at all.

- What was the hardest moment?

▶ I dreamed of winning every day, but it was tough because things didn’t go as planned. Until last week, I even told my coach while crying that I was going to quit golf. Still, I’m grateful that he encouraged me by saying ‘you can do well.’ I realized that golf isn’t something you can always do well at. Instead of thinking about quitting, I will work harder going forward.

- I heard you like Kim Yuna.

▶ I respect Kim Yuna’s mental strength. She always maintained a poker face and played with confidence. I thought she was truly amazing and wanted to emulate her. This morning, I even watched Kim Yuna’s Vancouver free skating video.

- I heard your putting was weak.

▶ While preparing for this tournament, I received help from pro Lee Seung-hyun, who is famous for putting. It’s true that winning boosted my confidence. But I’m still not perfect.

- You received the winner’s prize money and a tour card. Which are you happier about?

▶ I’m happier to have received a three-year tour card. My goal so far has been to join the ‘K-10 Club,’ which means playing on the regular tour for 10 consecutive years. This win feels like a step closer to that goal.

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