The fervor of dedicated fan clubs burns hotter than the 37-degree Celsius heat index. Korean chants pierce Singapore's humid air as caps, mufflers, and light sticks bearing Korean players' names appear amid the exotic palm tree scenery.
Sentosa Golf Club erupted with Korean fans' cheers during the first round of the LPGA Tour's HSBC Women's World Championship on February 26.
Fan clubs supporting Kim Hyo-joo, Hwang Yu-min, and Yoon I-na led the charge. Groups of roughly 10 members each flew from Korea to cheer their favorite players. Local Korean residents in Singapore joined to amplify the atmosphere.
Kim Hyo-joo's fan club "Shooting Star" stood out most prominently. Members wore caps and badges featuring Kim's initials and carried DSLR cameras, supporting the seven-time LPGA Tour winner with quiet but passionate dedication. Kim enters this tournament riding momentum from her solo third-place finish at last week's Honda Thailand and as the 2021 champion at this venue, heightening fans' expectations.
"Our entire fan club plans to walk all 18 holes with Hyo-joo for four days," said fan club member Kim Nam-il, 57, at the venue. "She performed well last week and has great memories at this tournament, so we're hoping for a victory." Kim, a gastroenterology clinic director, postponed patient appointments and took leave for this trip.
Hwang Yu-min's fan club "Yumbly" also rallied support for the back-to-back KLPGA Tour Popularity Award winner in 2024 and 2025. Members shared live updates with Korean fans through Naver fan cafes and KakaoTalk messenger.
"Fans back home are with us in spirit," one member said. "Since TV broadcasts lag behind the action, we share real-time updates on where tee shots land and how far second shots remain." The member added that posts from overseas events draw intense engagement, with comments reaching 2,000 to 3,000.