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 drew attention on the tour, Yoolin Lee did not achieve the results she had hoped for. In 2022, she entered the professional stage by finishing fifth in the KLPGA Tour Qualifying Tournament.

It wasn't easy. It was a series of hardships. Due to poor results in her rookie year, she had to return to the qualifying tournament. She placed second in 2023 and took first place in 2024, overcoming many twists and turns. Yoolin Lee expressed her gratitude, saying, "I lacked skill in my first year. Later, I struggled with driver yips. Many people helped me, and that's how I was able to win."

Yoolin Lee is close friends with Yumin Hwang, who is one year younger. They have been inseparable since their national team days. The day before the final round of this tournament, Yumin Hwang visited her at her accommodation to encourage her older friend, who was leading by one stroke after three rounds. "Yumin, who has experience winning, gave me a lot of advice," she said, beaming. "She gave me a 'victory cookie' and told me, 'With this energy, you'll be able to win.' It really helped." Yumin Hwang won the LPGA Tour Lotte Championship on October 4 and will compete in the United States next year.

Yoolin Lee also shared a story about her close friendship with Minjeong Hwang, another KLPGA Tour player. "Before the final round, while I was practicing on the green, Minjeong came over and said, 'You appeared in my dream, and you sent me a heart and hugged me.' Hearing that made me feel good, and it was amazing that something good actually happened," she said.

In this tournament, she claimed her first career victory after a five-hole playoff against veteran Ji Young Park, who has 10 career KLPGA Tour wins. In the third round, she set a Lakewood Country Club course record with a 9-under-par 63. She used to worry about securing her tour card every year, but with this win, she earned 216 million won in prize money and secured her card through 2027. "Now I can play without the burden of the qualifying tournament," she said. "From now on, I want to enjoy golf."

Yoolin Lee is a player with a stable driver, irons, and putting. In particular, her putting has improved significantly. "Coach Semin Kim helped me a lot," she said, expressing her gratitude. "He taught me various methods and know-how for controlling distance." In the final round, she was two strokes behind Ji Young Park through the 16th hole. Victory seemed out of reach, but she sank a 4.5-meter birdie putt on the par-5 17th and a nearly 6-meter birdie putt on the par-4 18th. In the fifth playoff hole, she made an 8-meter birdie putt to win.

She has many strong supporters around her. Coach Hye-dong Kim played a significant role in this victory, helping her overcome her driver yips. "He came every day during the tournament. I am just so grateful," she said. She also expressed thanks to Next Creative, which manages her career. "They have supported me since my amateur days, and I signed an official contract in my rookie year. They really treat me like family."

Yoolin Lee is dreaming of a bigger stage. "Advancing to the LPGA Tour has been my goal since I first started playing golf," she said. "If I have the skills to compete in the United States, I want to take on the challenge." Yoolin Lee concluded the interview by saying, "Now that I have my first win, I want to play with excitement. I want to be a player who brings positive energy. I hope to positively influence both my fans and fellow players."

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