Horse-Year Stars Set to Shine on the Fairways This Season

Horse-Born Players Shining on the KLPGA Tour
Veteran Power of 1990-Born Park Jooyoung and Ahn Songyi
Young Blood of 2002-Born Go Jiwoo, Kim Minju, and Lee Yoolin

With the arrival of the Year of the Fire Horse (Byeongo Year), players born in the Year of the Horse are signaling a big season ahead.

The players born in the Year of the Horse who are competing on the Korean Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour are sweating it out to make this season even more special. From veteran players born in 1990 to rising stars born in 2002, they are determined to dominate this year's KLPGA Tour.

The older players born in the Year of the Horse are drawing particular attention. "Mom golfer" Park Jooyoung is showing exceptional determination. She claimed her first career victory at the 2023 Daebo HausD Open and finished runner-up three times last season. Looking back, Park Jooyoung said, "I was satisfied with my iron shots last year, but I often missed putts from 3 to 5 meters, and stopping just short of victory because of that is what I regret the most."

These are the players born in the Year of the Horse who will shine on this year's Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour. Provided by Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association

As she is also raising a child, it is realistically difficult for her to secure enough practice time. During about two weeks of training camp, she focused on sharpening her competitive edge as much as possible. Setting a goal of at least one win in the 2026 season, Park Jooyoung expressed her resolve by saying, "I know there are fewer days left when I can compete on the field than the days I have already played, so I will smile even brighter and deliver results with no regrets."

Ahn Songyi, who has two career victories on the KLPGA Tour, is the player who broke the records for most tournament appearances and most cuts made last year. If she plays just 11 more tournaments this season, she will become the first player in KLPGA Tour history to reach 400 tournament appearances. In addition, if she makes the cut in 9 more tournaments, she will also become the first to achieve 300 cuts made. Ahn Songyi said, "I will show more stable play through the composure that comes from experience. I will play with diligence and never give up."

The momentum of the younger players is just as strong. These are the players born in 2002 who will look to extend their winning ways. They are led by Go Jiwoo, who reached three career wins last year, along with Kim Minju and Lee Yoolin, who both tasted the joy of their first career victories. "I am growing little by little every year," said Go Jiwoo, adding, "I feel I have clearly improved in course management and driving distance." She went on, "Rather than obsessing over short-term results, I am focusing on building a swing and mindset that will allow me to enjoy a long golf career. This year as well, I will consistently contend at the top and add more wins."

Kim Minju emerged as a new powerhouse by winning the iM Finance Open last year. "To maintain a good feel for my shots for as long as possible during the season, I am practicing to make my swing more solid," Kim Minju said, adding, "My goals this year are three wins in the season and a top-five finish in a major tournament."

Lee Yoolin is a young gun who captured a dramatic first career victory last season at the Sangsangin · Hankyung Wownet Open after a fierce battle that went to a fifth playoff hole. She is devoting herself to improving her iron accuracy and putting. "This year, I want to increase my greens-in-regulation rate and present a more stable game of golf," said Lee Yoolin, adding confidently, "I want to push myself one step further and take on the challenge of becoming a multiple winner."

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