[Field Story] ‘Cool 30s Unnie’ Lee Jeong-min

Lee Jung-min, with 10 career wins in Vietnam, the senior most loved by juniors
Overcomes driver yips after 5 years and 7 months, 'Protagonist of a human drama'
Silent master who stays on one path: "Looking forward to the strong performance of 30s sisters"

Lee Jeong-min is smiling brightly while holding the trophy with her mother immediately after winning the PLK Pacific Links Korea Championship. Photo by KLPGA

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] ‘Cool Unnie.’

This is what Lee Jeong-min is often called. She is the most beloved role model among juniors on the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour. Even Lim Hee-jeong smiles whenever she sees her senior Lee Jeong-min. Lee Jeong-min’s playing style is bold, and she has a special affection for her fellow players. She has a great personality and listens to even the trivial stories of other players. She is regarded as the ‘only player in the golf world with no enemies.’

The story from the 4th round of the 2015 Korean Women’s Open with Park Sung-hyun is famous. At that time, Park Sung-hyun, who had no prior wins, started to falter sharply near the end, and Lee Jeong-min advised her to “talk with your caddie to ease the tension.” Park Sung-hyun went on to win that tournament. Lee Jeong-min’s ‘golden manners’ became a hot topic long after the match ended.

Now in her 30s, Lee Jeong-min delivered a victory report last week in Vietnam. She won the 2023 season’s second tournament, the PLK Pacific Links Korea Championship. This was her 10th career win, the 14th in KLPGA history, achieved after 291 tournaments since her debut on the KLPGA Tour in 2010. She also rose to a tie for 11th place in the domestic all-time wins ranking. Lee Jeong-min has now become a witness who has left a mark in KLPGA Tour history.

Not all the process was smooth. A former national team member, Lee Jeong-min won the Polo Junior Classic, one of the four major amateur tournaments in the United States. She started her professional career smoothly by winning the Doosan Match Play Championship during her rookie season, but her first trial came soon after. She suffered from the ‘yips’ in her drive shots. After 2 years and 6 months of winless struggles, she escaped the slump by winning the 2012 Seoul Economic Daily Women’s Open.

Since then, she posted steady results with 2 wins in 2014, 3 wins in 2015, and 1 win in 2016. She was regarded as part of the ‘Big 3’ along with Ko Jin-young and Jeon In-ji. However, the second trial came. After winning the 2016 World Ladies Championship, her green hit rate plummeted to 80th place in 2017. She was far from winning. Shot troubles combined with a back injury.

Nevertheless, Lee Jeong-min quietly followed her own path. She did not become impatient despite poor results. In October last year, she earned her 9th win after 5 years and 7 months at the Dongbu Construction·Korea Land Trust Championship, and added another trophy in Vietnam after 1 year and 2 months.

Lee Jeong-min is a player who analyzes and researches. When her average putting ranked 111th this year, she went the extra mile to find solutions. Last month, she showed enthusiasm by attending a putting seminar conducted by Steven Sweeney, a coach active on the PGA Tour, and Kim Kyu-tae, a coach on the Korean Professional Golfers’ Association (KPGA) Korean Tour. Lee Jeong-min smiled, saying, “The extensive research on putting paid off at the Vietnam tournament.”

Lee Jeong-min is a ‘loyal woman.’ Once she forms a connection, she trusts and sticks with it. She has been with her management company Sportizen for 10 years since 2012. She has been with Mizuno Golf for 8 years and with her sponsor Hanwha Q CELLS for 5 years. Lee Jeong-min’s goal is unique. She does not say things like ‘I want to win a certain number of times’ or ‘I will be the money leader.’ Her attitude is, “If I take one step at a time without looking too far ahead, I will eventually reach my goal.”

Lee Jeong-min is a veteran who has been on tour for 13 years. While players in their early 20s dominate the tour, she is showing the ‘power of unnie.’ Last season, there was not a single winner in their 30s. Tournament courses have become longer, and the skills of younger players are formidable. The weekly grueling schedule makes physical strength an important factor. It is not easy for players in their 30s to maintain their tour cards.

Lee Jeong-min is determined to have a long career in this ‘drought era for players in their 30s.’ “Only two friends in their 30s are still playing on the tour,” she said, adding, “I will keep trying new methods. I will live by making efforts every day. I hope to have no injuries until the day I retire from playing.” The image of the ‘cool unnie’ Lee Jeong-min roaming the field with a lively step is envisioned again next year.

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