'LPGA Korean Oldest Champion' Ji Eunhee: "I think I will keep playing from now on"

May Bank of Hope Match Play: 36-Year-Old Wins After 17 Days, Showing 'Resilience'
4 Wins in 30s Out of 6 Total, 'Symbol of Consistency'
Physical Training and Draw Shot Practice "Will Keep Playing If Seed Maintained"

[Wonju (Gangwon) = Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] "I have no plans to retire. I think I will keep playing."

The "eldest sister" Ji Eun-hee is a veteran who achieved 4 out of her 6 LPGA Tour wins in her 30s. In May, she set the record as the oldest Korean winner at the Bank of Hope Match Play.

This is what Ji Eun-hee (36), who has become the 'eldest sister' of Korean women's golf, said. Ji Eun-hee participated in the LPGA Tour BMW Ladies Championship held at Oak Valley Golf Club in Wonju, Gangwon Province, on the 23rd, competing alongside younger juniors.

In an interview with Asia Economy, when asked "How long do you think you will continue your career as a player?" she smiled brightly and said, "I am not thinking about retirement yet. Maintaining my tour card is important first. If my physical condition holds up, I think I will continue playing on the tour."

Ji Eun-hee is a veteran who debuted on the LPGA Tour in 2007. In May, she earned her sixth career victory at the Bank of Hope Match Play. She is the oldest Korean winner on the LPGA Tour at 36 years and 17 days.

Four of Six LPGA Wins in Her 30s... "Competing with Younger Players Isn't Difficult"

In fact, Ji Eun-hee's statistics on the LPGA stage are average. This year, she ranks 67th in driving distance (259.15 yards), 78th in fairway hit rate (73.50%), 98th in greens in regulation (68.08%), and 15th in average putts (29.31). Regarding her relatively high putting rank, she laughed and said, "I often miss the green, so I get close to the hole with my approach shots."

However, Ji Eun-hee is synonymous with consistency. Four of her six career wins came after she turned 30. About the secret to this, she humbly said, "I was lucky. I won because I enjoyed playing." She added, "Competing with younger players is not difficult. I think I can play as a professional until I am 40."

It has already been 16 years since she started competing in the U.S. stage. She won her first title at the 2008 Wegmans LPGA and became the 'Major Queen' by winning the 2009 U.S. Women's Open. After an eight-year winless period, she made a comeback by winning the Swinging Skirts in 2017. Ji Eun-hee explained, "Although I didn't win for a long time, my play wasn't terrible. It wasn't bad enough to give up golf. I entered the top 10 several times and maintained my tour card."

"Golf Is a Sport Where There Are Always Things to Fix, Even After Playing for a Long Time"

Ji Eun-hee is still correcting her swing. She is working on changing her fade to a draw. She attempted this transformation with the help of former coach Kim Sang-gyun, whom she met at the Hanwha Golf Team. The draw is a shot that travels farther with less effort. "After learning the draw shot, my distance increased, and playing became easier. It was a big momentum for me," she emphasized.

Even when staying in Korea, she visits former coach Kim Sang-gyun to become a more perfect player. She meticulously checks her swing even after tournaments because if she lets her guard down, she returns to her old form. Ji Eun-hee said, "I keep researching golf. Golf is a sport where there are always things to fix, even after playing for a long time," and added, "I continue to take lessons."

Jieunhee attributed her ability to compete on the LPGA Tour for 16 years to consistent physical training and an enjoyable attitude.

"Physical Fitness and Rest Are Important" Strengthening Lower Body with Skiing in Winter

Ji Eun-hee focuses on building physical fitness during the off-season. She does weight training four days a week. In winter, she strengthens her lower body through skiing.

She was born with strong physical stamina. Her father, Ji Young-gi (66), chairman of the Gapyeong County Sports Council and former national water skiing team coach, greatly helped her. "I started water skiing in early elementary school," she said. "It is a full-body exercise that uses the lower body, core, and arms, so it helped me. Thanks to my father, I think I built a strong lower body," she smiled.

She travels with a trainer to every tournament and receives daily body care on-site. As she has aged, she has reduced her practice volume. Ji Eun-hee said, "Not getting injured is the most important thing." She also manages the number of tournaments she plays. This year, she started the season in March. Ji Eun-hee enjoys eating meat to strengthen her stamina. She also takes supplements, amino acid drinks, calcium, magnesium, and vitamins.

Ji Eun-hee highly evaluated the skills of Korean players. However, she expressed regret about the short career span, with many considering retirement in their late 20s. She advised, "Young players need to receive systematic training from an early age. They must work hard on physical training and strengthening exercises to prevent injuries."

Reporter No Woo-rae golfman@asiae.co.kr

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