Six Korean players competed in the LPGA Tour season opener, the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions. Yang Hee-young, Kim A-rim, Yoo Hae-ran, Lee So-mi, Lim Jin-hee, and Hwang Yu-min all qualified as "two-year champions."
However, two of them will miss the season's second event, the Honda LPGA Thailand, which begins February 19 at Siam Country Club in Chonburi, Pattaya. Yang Hee-young, who finished solo second at the opener, and Hwang Yu-min, who tied for fifth, failed to make the 72-player field. The tournament's eligibility is limited to invited players and last year's top 80 performers. Yang's absence is particularly notable as she holds the record for most wins at this event with three titles.
Six Korean women golfers will make their season debuts at this tournament. World No. 9 Kim Hyo-joo leads the group, joined by Kim Sei-young, Choi Hye-jin, Ko Jin-young, Lee Mi-hyang, and Yoon I-na.
Attention centers on how Korea's "Veteran Big 3"—Kim Sei-young (33), Kim Hyo-joo (30), and Ko Jin-young (30)—will open their seasons as they enter their thirties.
Whether Choi Hye-jin and Yoon I-na can carry momentum from their top-10 finishes at the LET Saudi Ladies International also draws interest.
The first-round pairings feature compelling matchups among Korean players. World No. 12 Yoo Hae-ran and World No. 15 Choi Hye-jin will compete in the same group. Choi reached her career-high world ranking this week following her tied-fourth finish in Saudi Arabia. China's Xu Muni, an invited player, joins them.
Yoon I-na, who opened strongly with a tied-sixth finish in Saudi Arabia, pairs with veteran Lim Jin-hee. Japan's Yoshida Rin, another invited player, rounds out their group.
Kim Sei-young joins LPGA long-drive leader Julia Lopez Ramirez of Spain and invited player Miyata Naruha of Japan. Ko Jin-young plays alongside Esther Henseleit of Germany and Liu Yan of China.
Kim Hyo-joo drew the toughest competitors among Korean players. She faces World No. 5 Yamashita Miyu of Japan and World No. 8 Lottie Woad of England—both ranked higher than her.
The tournament features 21 of the world's top 25 players. Notable absences include World No. 2 Nelly Korda of the United States, World No. 3 Charley Hull of England, and World No. 4 Minjee Lee of Australia. World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand opens her first round alongside defending champion Angel Yin of the United States and LET Saudi Arabia runner-up Iwai Akie of Japan.