Latest LPGA winner Ryu Hae-ran reaches career-high No. 5 in world rankings

South Korean golfer Ryu Hae-ran has soared to her career-high No. 5 in the world rankings on the strength of her latest LPGA Tour title. Ryu jumped seven spots to reach No. 5 in the latest women's world rankings released Tuesday, becoming the third South Korean player in the top 10 in the process. Ryu claimed her third career LPGA win at the Black Desert Championship in Ivins, Utah, on Sunday, going wire to wire for a five-shot victory. Ryu is trailing four players who stayed put for this week:

May 6, 2025

Music-loving Korean golfer thrives in noisy setting at LIV Golf tourney

INCHEON -- For the uninitiated, playing at a LIV Golf event for the first time can be a shock to the system. One big difference between a LIV Golf tournament and a regular tour event is the music. Speakers set up behind teeing grounds and along the fairways play songs of different genres constantly, and there are no mute buttons to press even when players are about to play their shots. Luckily, Kim Min-kyu, a South Korean player making his LIV Golf debut on home soil Friday, loves listening to m

May 2, 2025

Man of the people: LIV Golf star DeChambeau enjoys interaction with fans in 1st trip to S. Korea

INCHEON -- When he wasn't busy prepping for the first LIV Golf tournament in South Korea this week, American star Bryson DeChambeau was signing autographs and spending time with fans in the golf-crazed nation. By his own estimate, DeChambeau must have signed "upwards of a couple thousand now, for sure," Often referred to as a man of the people, DeChambeau wouldn't have it any other way. "It's great. The Korean fans out here have been fantastic. Nothing but super sweet and nice," DeChambeau said

May 2, 2025

S. Korean-born players determined to put on show in LIV Golf's 'home game'

As LIV Golf makes its first appearance in South Korea this week, the breakaway tour's South Korean-born players said Wednesday they will try to put on a good show in what they see as their "home game." LIV Golf Korea will begin Friday at Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea in Incheon, just west of Seoul, with the champion to be crowned Sunday after 54 holes of action on the par-72, 7,376-yard layout. The Saudi Arabia-backed tour features 13 teams of four players each, and Iron Heads Golf Club will be

April 30, 2025

Kim Hyo-joo finishes runner-up at LPGA major after playoff

Kim Hyo-joo has settled for a runner-up finish at the first LPGA major tournament of the season after pushing her way into a record-setting playoff. The South Korean veteran lost in a five-way playoff at the Chevron Championship at The Club at Carlton Woods in The Woodlands, Texas, on Sunday, as Mao Saigo of Japan emerged victorious with a birdie on the first playoff hole, the par-5 18th. This was the first five-way playoff in LPGA major history. Kim and Saigo, along with Ariya Jutanugarn of Tha

April 28, 2025

[Graphic News] Six golf legends who achieved ‘Career Grand Slam’

In golf, a “Career Grand Slam” refers to winning all four of the sport’s major championships - The Masters, US Open, The Open Championship (British Open) and PGA Championship - at least once over the course of a career. It’s one of golf’s rarest and most prestigious accomplishments, demonstrating a player’s mastery across varying courses, conditions and styles of play. As of 2025, only six male golfers have achieved this feat: Gene Sarazen (1935), Ben Hogan (1953), Gary Player (1965), Jack Nickl

April 28, 2025

Ryu Hae-ran tied for 54-hole lead at 1st LPGA major of season

Ryu Hae-ran has a share of the lead entering the final round of the first LPGA major tournament of 2025. The South Korean player is tied atop the leaderboard with Mao Saigo of Japan at nine-under par at the Chevron Championship at The Club at Carlton Woods in The Woodlands, Texas, after shooting a four-under 68 on Saturday (local time). It was the best score in the field in the third round. Ryu, the 2023 LPGA Rookie of the Year with two career titles, will go for her maiden major victory. Saigo,

April 27, 2025

No S. Korean inside top 10 in women's golf rankings for 1st time in 19 yrs

For the first time in nearly two decades, South Korea does not have a player inside the top 10 in the women's world golf rankings. Ryu Hae-ran slipped three spots from No. 9 to No. 12 in the latest rankings released Tuesday, while Ko Jin-young rose two places to No. 11 as the top-ranked South Korean player at the moment. The women's rankings were first released in February 2006. The last time South Korea, a women's golf powerhouse for many years, did not have a top-10 player was the second week

April 22, 2025

Kim shoots 66, holds third-round lead at RBC Heritage

Kim Si-woo shoots 66, holds third-round lead at RBC Heritage after all his adventures during the third round of the RBC Heritage, Justin Thomas wasn't complaining about where he ended up on the leader board. He's right there in contention. South Korea's Kim shot 5-under-par 66 to move into the tournament lead Saturday as Thomas, the second-round leader, encountered rough and wet patches at Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Kim is at 15-under 198, holding a one-shot edge on Thomas and Andrew No

April 20, 2025

2025 Genesis Invitational to kick off Thursday in San Diego

Korean automaker-backed PGA Tour event to raise relief funds for victims of California wildfires The 2025 Genesis Invitational will kick off at the Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego on Thursday, Hyundai Motor Group said Wednesday. As the PGA Tour’s signature event again this year, the tournament sponsored by the Korean auto brand will be held through Sunday. A total of 72 professional golfers, including world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and No. 3 Rory McIlroy, are competing at this year’s Genesi

Feb. 12, 2025

S. Koreans miss out on qualification for LIV Golf

Former South Korean tour money winner Lee Soo-min tied for eighth in the qualifying tournament for the Saudi Arabia-backed LIV Golf, missing out on direct qualification for the lucrative circuit. Lee finished the four-round LIV Golf Promotions at three-under 281 to tie for eighth place, after shooting a one-over 72 at Riyadh Golf Club in Riyadh on Saturday. Golfers played 36 holes on Saturday. Lee had been tied for third at four-under after carding a 67 in the third round, three shots off the le

Dec. 15, 2024

Final round of LPGA qualifying tournament suspended due to rain in Alabama

The final round of the LPGA Tour qualifying tournament has been suspended due to rain in Alabama, with three South Korean players in position to earn their cards for 2025. The final round of the LPGA Q-Series was halted at 9:30 a.m. Monday (local time) at Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Magnolia Grove in Mobile, Alabama, with heavy downpours rendering the course unplayable. Play was officially called off at 1 p.m., and the LPGA said the final round will resume at 8 a.m. Tuesday. The top 25 and

Dec. 10, 2024

S. Korean players combine for 3 LPGA wins in 2024, lowest total in 13 yrs

Once the dominant force on the LPGA Tour, the South Korean contingent finished the 2024 campaign with three combined victories, the lowest total since 2011. Third-year pro An Narin finished tied for fifth at the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship in Naples, Florida, on Sunday at 15-under 273, the best performance by a South Korean player at the event. She ended up seven strokes behind the champion, Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand. An failed to join a trio of South Korean winners for this sea

Nov. 25, 2024

S. Korean An Narin takes 1st-round lead at LPGA season finale

South Korea's An Narin has seized the opening-round lead at the final LPGA tournament of the year in Florida, putting herself in position for her maiden title. An fired a bogey-free round of eight-under 64 at the CME Group Tour Championship at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Florida, on Thursday. After making four birdies on the front nine and four more on the back nine, An holds a one-stroke lead over Angel Yin of the United States. The tournament is only open to the top 60 players in the R

Nov. 22, 2024

Im Jin-hee in hunt for top LPGA rookie award after runner-up finish in Florida

Following the best performance of her LPGA career on Sunday in Florida, South Korean Im Jin-hee has put herself in the hunt for the tour's top rookie award. Im finished tied for second place at The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican at 11-under 269, after shooting a two-under 68 at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida. She had three birdies and one bogey Sunday. Im, Charley Hull of England and Zhang Weiwei of China all ended up three strokes behind the champion, Nelly Korda of the U

Nov. 18, 2024