[New Challenge] Im Jin-hee "The Bitter Taste of My Debut Match Is Medicine for Me"

KLPGA Multiple Title Winner Starts Anew on US Stage
Bitter Experience in LPGA Tour Debut: "Learned a Lot"
Training for Adaptation Locally, Focusing on Driving Distance and Short Game
"Aiming for Victory and Rookie of the Year, Also Want to Compete in the Olympics"

"Golf is not easy. I have learned that again."

KLPGA multiple winner Im Jin-hee chose the American stage for a new challenge. She expressed her determination, saying, "It will be difficult and tough, but I will definitely show a good performance."

This is the impression of Im Jin-hee after her debut on the U.S. Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour. She was cut at the Drive On Championship held at Bradenton Country Club in Florida on the 28th of last month. Starting a new challenge in the U.S., Im Jin-hee said in an interview with Asia Economy on the 4th, "I have many regrets, but I also learned a lot," adding, "I think I need to prepare better."

Im Jin-hee is a player who joined the regular tour in 2018 after progressing through the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Jump (3rd tier) Tour and Dream (2nd tier) Tour. She is a "quiet powerhouse" with a total of six wins on the KLPGA Tour. Despite struggling to produce results after her debut, she competed in the qualifying tournaments every year until 2020. She is a "late bloomer golfer" who reached the top through hard work. In June 2021, she achieved her first victory at the BC Card·Hankyung Ladies Cup after 57 attempts, and last year, she swept four wins to become the top winner of the season.

Im Jin-hee secured a full tour card by finishing tied for 17th in the final stage of the LPGA Tour Q-Series last December.

After becoming the strongest player domestically, Im Jin-hee set a new goal: to become the best on the LPGA Tour stage. In the final stage of the LPGA Tour Qualifying (Q) Series held at Magnolia Grove Golf Club in Mobile, Alabama, last December, she finished tied for 17th place. By finishing within the top 20, she succeeded in entering the LPGA Tour this year. "I don't know exactly when it started, but since I was young, I wanted to play in the U.S. While competing in domestic tournaments, I thought about challenging the LPGA. I expected to face many hardships and difficulties. It will be tough, but I want to overcome them well and gain a sense of accomplishment."

Im Jin-hee experienced a bitter taste in her first tournament. However, she views it positively as a good thing. It became an opportunity to renew her determination. She analyzed, "There are still many shortcomings. I think I failed to adapt to the local environment this time." To quickly adapt to the new tour, she is studying English in her spare time. She also hired a new caddie recommended by the LPGA Tour. "She is an experienced woman. She has a very good impression. We plan to work together starting from the Pure Silk Championship (March 21-24)."

Im Jin-hee is giving an acceptance speech after receiving the KLPGA Tour's most wins and skill improvement awards last year.

Im Jin-hee is a practice addict. She focuses solely on training and body management. Until 2021, she did not even have a mobile phone. She is very different from her peers who cannot take their eyes off their phones. She is also uninterested in social networking services (SNS). Important contacts go through her mother's phone. Concentrating only on golf, she received the Skill Development Award at last year's KLPGA Tour Awards Ceremony. When she has putting problems, she practically lives on the green. She said, "I putt for 45 minutes on the practice green one hour before tee-off."

The LPGA Tour entered a "break period" for a month after completing the opening events last month?the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions (TOC) and the Drive On Championship. It will resume with the Honda LPGA Thailand on the 22nd. Im Jin-hee has set her goals for this year as winning and Rookie of the Year. This is why she has not put down her golf clubs even during the rest period. She is focusing on the 2% lacking in driving distance and play around the greens. She expressed confidence, saying, "I am trying to adapt to the differences from domestic play. If I improve my weaknesses, I think good results will come."

Im Jin-hee, who experienced a bitter taste in her LPGA Tour debut, is focusing on adapting to the local environment and training her short game.

Im Jin-hee also has the desire to challenge the Paris Olympics, which will be held for four days starting August 7 at Le Golf National Golf Club near Paris, France. Of course, it is not easy. She must enter the top 15 in the world rankings by June 24. Currently, she is ranked 42nd in the world. If she wins in the first half of the year, she might be able to participate in the Olympics she has dreamed of. "My motto is 'Sincerity, Best Effort, Humility.' I always do my best in competitions. If I have the honor to participate in the Olympics, I will also play with my best effort then."

Im Jin-hee plans to use her poor performance in her first LPGA Tour event as medicine. After being cut in the qualifiers, she gained strength from contacts with acquaintances. She said, "Although I missed the cut in my first tournament, many people sent me a lot of support," adding, "I received touching emotions and positive energy, so I will become a player who repays that with the best performance." She smiled and said, "Even if there are difficult and hard times, I will not give up. I ask for your continued interest."

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