[Golf Star Post Field] ① Lee Seung-hyun, the 'Spot-on Putting Teacher'

Harvesting 7 Wins Including 2 Majors, 'Putting Master'
Opened 'Lee Seung-hyun Golf Studio' After Retiring Last Year
Champ Team Students Like Kim Su-ji, Hong Ji-won, Go Ji-woo
"Busier Than When I Was a Player, But So Much Fun"

Leaving the top spot is never easy. It’s because of lingering attachments. However, there are players who boldly let go of their clubs for new challenges. Although there was fear of failure in unfamiliar places, they returned to their original mindset and steadied their hearts. Asia Economy Newspaper is running a series about golf stars who are walking new paths after retirement. The first story is about Lee Seung-hyun, who transformed into a ‘putting master instructor.’

"It’s so much fun."

This is why Lee Seung-hyun opened the ‘Lee Seung-hyun Golf Studio’ in Yangjae-dong, Seoul, right after officially retiring in May last year. In an interview with Asia Economy on the 11th, he said, "I’ve wanted to run a putting academy since I was young," and smiled, saying, "It’s fun to share the know-how I have about putting." He added, "Putting seems simple yet complex. That’s why it’s interesting," and expressed his ambition, "I want to complete a more in-depth putting coaching method."

'Putting Master' Lee Seung-hyun is determined, saying, "I want to become the best in the world when it comes to putting lessons."

Lee Seung-hyun’s nickname is ‘Master of Putting.’ He debuted on the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour in 2010 and maintained his regular tour card for 12 years until 2021 with outstanding green play. He accumulated a total of 7 wins, including 2 major championships. Although he could have extended his tour card due to pregnancy in 2021 and childbirth in 2022, he decided to retire to prepare for his second life. He said, "It wasn’t easy to leave the field while still having a tour card," but smiled brightly, adding, "Still, I think I made the right choice. Now, my husband and parents are happy too."

Lee Seung-hyun is busier now than when she was an active player. She usually starts lessons at 8 a.m. and works until 5 p.m. She gets up early in the morning and sometimes skips lunch. Lee Seung-hyun describes herself as a ‘working mom’ with an 18-month-old child. She said, "When I was a player, I only had to focus on my own games, but now I have to watch the games of the players I coach and check each one." She also explained, "After work, I have to do housework and childcare, so it feels like I have no rest time. Managing my condition isn’t easy. The week really flies by."

Lee Seung-hyun was not a player known for long drives or pinpoint iron shots. However, she captivated golf fans by sinking miraculous putts in crucial moments. She recalled, "My putting was very good. I practiced 2 to 3 hours a day. Before going to bed, I did image training while looking at my phone." In 2017, she won the major Hite Jinro Championship by a record margin of 9 strokes, and in 2018, she achieved a rare ‘bogey-free’ victory at the S-OIL Championship, the fifth in history. Throughout her career, she consistently ranked within the top 5 in average putting.

Lee Seung-hyun is taking a commemorative photo with Jung Young-chae, CEO of NH Investment & Securities, the sponsor, immediately after receiving the golden putter at his official retirement ceremony last year.

After Lee Seung-hyun retired, juniors flocked to her, eager to learn her putting secrets. A representative player is Kim Su-ji. Lee said, "She is a junior I’ve known well even before retiring," and expressed gratitude, "She even shared her winning news with me, which I really appreciate." Kim Su-ji is a strong player with 5 career wins, including 2 majors. Last month, she also topped the third major of the season, the Hanwha Classic, held at the notoriously challenging Jade Palace Golf Club in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province. Lee Seung-hyun takes care not only of players’ techniques but also their putting preparation routines and psychological states.

Lee Seung-hyun mainly coaches KLPGA Tour players. Her prot?g?s include Kim Su-ji, Hong Ji-won, Go Ji-woo, Bang Shin-sil, Son Ye-bin, and Bae So-hyun. She has taught over 100 players so far and is currently coaching putting techniques to about 60. Her popularity has increased since Kim Su-ji’s victory. She said, "Most of the players are competing in the first and second tours. There are some male players, but over 90% are female players." It has already been 1 year and 3 months since the golf studio opened. Lee Seung-hyun said, "I feel rewarded when I see the players’ skills improve," and smiled warmly, "When they win, they send me flags, balls, hats, and rice cakes."

Lee Seung-hyun emphasizes three things to her juniors: address, grip, and rhythm. She stressed, "Putting is difficult to send the ball straight when you’re nervous. It’s important to make the timing of applying force consistent." Lee Seung-hyun is studying even harder. She fills in gaps through seminars, exchanges with other pros, and conversations with club fitters. She also coaches using PutView, a new concept golf putting training device in her indoor studio. Additionally, she helps find the ‘hidden mistakes’ that data cannot explain.

Lee Seunghyun is gaining popularity with fun and easy putting lessons. He already has over 100 students who have trained with him.

Lee Seung-hyun plans to give back the support and love she received during her playing career to her juniors. She intends to build an actual putting green in the future. She explained, "There aren’t as many places to practice as you might think. If we train on a green, I think I can share even more know-how." She also said, "Putting shows improvement quickly even if you change just one small movement," and added, "I want to teach my juniors the joy of putting."

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