National Team Golf Competitions Are Exciting Too

Golf is an individual sport. Individual competitions are more common than team events. In general tour tournaments, the winner is determined through 72 holes of stroke play over four rounds. However, it is not limited to individual matches. Team competitions, such as national tournaments, are also popular. The Hanwha Lifeplus International Crown, a women's golf national team competition that began on October 23 at New Korea Country Club in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, is a prime example. Founded in 2014, this year marks its fifth edition. Thirty-two players from eight countries are participating. The host country, South Korea, as well as the United States, Japan, Thailand, Sweden, Australia, China, and the World Team are competing. The tournament is held over four days. For the first three days, the format is four-ball, where two players each play their own ball and the better score counts for the team. On the final day, the winner is determined through singles matches and foursomes, whe

Lifestyle

10.24 09:00

Yoolin Lee's 81st Attempt: "I Was So Happy I Couldn't Sleep Until Dawn"

She couldn't sleep. It wasn't because she was worried. It was because she was overjoyed. This is Yoolin Lee's story. It was right after her hard-fought victory at the SangSangin and Hankyung WowNet Open on the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour on October 19, her 81st attempt after 80 previous tries. In an interview with The Asia Business Daily on October 23, she smiled and said, "It still doesn't feel real that I won. I couldn't sleep until dawn after clinching the victory." Yoolin Lee started playing golf in fifth grade, encouraged by her uncle. "I started golf as a hobby and found it so much fun. I began participating in tournaments in sixth grade," she recalled. She also learned golf in New Zealand. She made her name known by winning the 2020 KLPGA President's Cup Women's Amateur Golf Championship. She represented the national team in 2021 and 2022. Her teammates included Yumin Hwang, Minseon Kim, Shinsil Bang, Minbyeol Kim, and Doeun Lee. While her friends dre

Lifestyle

10.24 08:00

Who Earned More: Williams vs. Scott

Caddies are assistants to tour players. They do their utmost to help golfers win. There are caddies who have achieved the greatest results by partnering with the best players. Steve Williams of New Zealand, who carried the bag for the "Golf Emperor" Tiger Woods of the United States, and Ted Scott of the United States, who assists world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, are prime examples. These two caddies have earned far more than many players. This is the story of the "old and new emperor caddies." Williams was the elite caddie who accompanied Woods during his prime. He was even called the highest-paid sportsman in New Zealand. Williams worked as Woods's caddie for 12 years, from 1999 to 2011. He helped Woods win 13 of his 15 major championships. Williams was born in December 1963 in Wellington. He started playing golf at a young age and lowered his handicap to 2 by the age of 13. As a teenager, he caddied for Peter Thomson of Australia, a five-time major winner, at the 1976 New Zealand Open,

Lifestyle

10.18 08:00

Korda's Slump Mystery... The Landscape of Women's Golf Has Changed

Golf is a sport with many variables. A superstar who once dominated the tour is now suffering from a deep championship drought. This is the story of former world No. 1 Nelly Korda from the United States. Last year, Korda tied the tour record by winning the first five events of the LPGA Tour season. She secured a total of seven victories, including one major championship, and delivered overwhelming results in the 16 tournaments she entered. Her dominance was reminiscent of the "golf emperor" Tiger Woods. At that time, Korda had no real rivals. Her competitors faltered on their own, and she topped all the major categories: most wins, Player of the Year (280 points), and CME points (4,368 points). She ranked second in both the money list ($4,391,930) and scoring average (69.56). The money title went to Jinno Titikun from Thailand, who won the final event of the LPGA Tour season, the Tour Championship, in November last year. By adding the $4 million winner’s prize, Titikun dramatically cla

Lifestyle

10.17 08:00

'Golf Tournament Marketing' BMW, I Love Korea~

BMW is a company that fully enjoys the benefits of golf marketing. It hosts a variety of golf tournaments around the world. On the PGA Tour, BMW sponsors the BMW Championship, which is the second event of the FedExCup Playoffs. On the DP World Tour, it organizes the high-profile BMW PGA Championship. South Korea, one of BMW's key target markets, is no exception. The BMW Ladies Championship is the only LPGA Tour event held in the country. This year, the tournament began on October 16 at Pine Beach Golf Links in Haenam, South Jeolla Province. Since 2015, BMW Korea has shown a keen interest in domestic golf tournaments, starting with the BMW Championship on the KLPGA Tour. In 2019, the tournament was co-hosted by the LPGA Tour and the KLPGA Tour, and since 2022, it has been held solely as an LPGA Tour event. BMW Korea’s dedication to South Korea is sincere. The company has agreed to continue hosting the LPGA Tour event through 2029. The BMW Ladies Championship has established itself not j

Lifestyle

10.17 06:00

[Golf Rules... Knowledge Is Power] Painful Replacement Mistake

Golf is a sport without referees. It is known as a "gentleman's sport," where golfers are expected to follow the rules themselves. Golf rules are designed to assist play. If you know them well and use them appropriately, they can greatly help with managing your score. These are essential golf rules that weekend golfers must know. Lee Dong-eun was brought to tears after a drop mistake. On October 12, at the 88 Country Club in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province (par 72, 6,748 yards), during the final third round of the K-Food Nolbu·Hwami Masters on the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour (total prize money of 1.2 billion won), she violated the rules at the 8th hole (par 5). While attempting to replace her ball after finding it in the rough, she made the mistake of not placing it back in its original position before playing. Her tee shot flew to the right and landed in the grass on a slope. After finding the ball, Lee Dong-eun confirmed it was hers, but during the process of pl

Lifestyle

10.13 09:39

"Not Just a Hobby"... Sports Stars Obsessed with Golf

Sports stars are deeply captivated by the allure of golf. Last month, former world No. 1 tennis player Andy Murray from the United Kingdom recorded an eagle at the DP World Tour BMW Championship Pro-Am and then declared his intention to attempt to qualify for The Open, a major championship. The Open grants eligibility for regional qualifiers, held in 15 locations across the United Kingdom and Ireland, even to amateurs with a handicap of zero. Currently, Murray's handicap is 2. Like Murray, there are many elite athletes who have fallen in love with golf. There are even athletes with such outstanding skills that they compete in professional tournaments. One such example is Tony Romo, the renowned former Dallas Cowboys quarterback from the National Football League (NFL) in the United States. He is currently working as a commentator for CBS. His official handicap is +3.3, which is on par with players on the Professional Golfers' Association (PGA) Tour. In May of this year, he participated

Lifestyle

10.11 08:00

Kim Haneul Makes Commentator Debut: "I Was So Nervous"

Even a player known for her nerves of steel on the tours in Korea and Japan felt nervous. This is the story of Kim Haneul, the "golf beauty." After retiring from her golf career in 2021, Kim Haneul has made a glamorous return, this time as a commentator for SBS Golf. On September 25, at the Blue Heron Golf Club in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province, she picked up a microphone instead of a club for the first round of the Hite Jinro Championship, a major tournament on the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour. In an interview with Asia Economy right after her first broadcast, Kim Haneul said, "I didn't expect to be this nervous," and added, "The day went by so quickly." She continued, "It was my first time doing a live broadcast, so I was very nervous. I think I was even more anxious because I was worried I might make a mistake while speaking." Kim Haneul is a player who was named KLPGA Tour Rookie of the Year in 2007 and topped the money list for two consecutive years in 2011 an

Lifestyle

09.27 10:00