'32 Jeon 33 Gi' Lee Yewon "Now the Grand Prize is the Goal"

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Sweat did not betray her.

This is the story of rookie of the year Lee Ye-won. On the 9th, at the final 4th round of the 2023 season Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour domestic opening event, the Lotte Rent-a-Car Women’s Open (total prize money 800 million won) held at Lotte Skyhill CC in Seogwipo, Jeju Island (par 72, 6,395 yards), she lost one stroke but completed a 3-stroke victory (6-under 282). Making her debut on the KLPGA Tour last year, she won for the first time in 33 tournaments and received a winner’s prize of 144 million won. She ranks 2nd in prize money (153,798,223 won), 3rd in average score (70.1667), and 7th in points for the grand prize (60 points).

Lee Ye-won is cheering after winning her first career victory at the Lotte Rent-a-Car Women's Open.
[Photo by KLPGA]

Lee Ye-won said, "I had a good rookie season last year, but I was disappointed because I didn’t have a win," adding, "This season, I wanted to get my first win as soon as possible, so I’m even happier to win at the domestic opening event." She continued, "I usually don’t cry, but I was a bit moved after sinking the final winning putt. But while doing the winner’s interview, the tears went away," and smiled brightly, saying, "I think I will watch the video of the winning moment over and over throughout the year."

Lee Ye-won showed her skills to the fullest last year. Out of 29 tournaments last year, she made it to the final round 26 times and finished in the ‘top 10’ 13 times. She ranked 3rd in prize money (849.78 million won). Due to her excellent skills, she was selected as the 15th KLPGA promotional model this year.

However, Lee Ye-won was frustrated by finishing as runner-up and third place three times each. She explained, "As a rookie, I didn’t feel the pressure or desire to win, but this season, I wanted to win quickly," adding, "I think thinking about winning helped me to actually win."

Since February, Lee Ye-won underwent intensive training for 56 days in Perth, Australia. She analyzed that missing several winning opportunities was due to short game mistakes, so she lived on the course from sunrise to sunset. She said, "I woke up at 5:30 a.m., played 18 holes in the morning, took a short rest, and practiced shots and short game from 1 p.m.," adding, "Since the days are long in Australia, I practiced short game once more before sunset."

Having achieved her first win, Lee Ye-won is dreaming bigger. She aims to receive the grand prize awarded to the best player of the year. She said, "Originally, my goal was to win once in the first half and once more in the second half, but I want to get my second win in the first half," and expressed her ambition, "I want the grand prize more than the money title because it requires consistent good performance."

Lee Ye-won is smiling while holding the trophy immediately after securing her first career victory at the Lotte Rent-a-Car Women’s Open.
[Photo by KLPGA]

Lee Ye-won’s role model is the ‘Golf Queen’ Park In-bi. She said, "I want to resemble senior Park In-bi, who has an excellent short game and remains unshaken in any situation." Lee Ye-won has a grand ambition: to become world No. 1. She emphasized, "My ultimate goal as a player is to be world No. 1," adding, "Since I first picked up a golf club at 8 or 9 years old, I have aimed to be world No. 1." She plans to focus on the domestic stage for the time being and then seek to advance overseas. With this tournament win, she also secured a spot in next year’s LPGA Tour Lotte Championship in the United States.

Lee Ye-won will compete in the Mediheal·Hankook Ilbo Championship on the 13th, aiming for her second consecutive win. She smiled and said, "I will rest well on Monday and prepare for the next tournament starting Tuesday," adding, "I ask for your many cheers."

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