Lee Ye-won, Park Hyun-kyung Race to 10 Career Wins as KLPGA Tour Opens

The 2026 Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour embarks on an eight-month campaign with record-high prize money. While fan favorites and big hitters Hwang Yu-min and Lee Dong-eun have departed for the LPGA Tour, the KLPGA has consistently produced new stars. Golf fans eagerly anticipate the stories that will unfold on the course this year. According to the KLPGA, this year's tour will feature 31 tournaments with total prize money reaching a record 34.7 billion won ($23.8 million). The season begins on March 12 with the Rejuran Championship (1.2 billion won purse) at Amata Spring Country Club in Chonburi, Thailand, and concludes on November 8 with the Daebo Housed Championship (1 billion won purse) at Seowon Hills Country Club in Paju. Except for two weeks between the Thailand and domestic openers and a two-week summer break, KLPGA Tour players will compete nearly every week for eight months. Total prize money of 34.7 billion won represents a 64% increase from 2016. The average purse per tournament now stands at approximately 1.12 billion won. In 2016, money list winner Park Sung-hyun collected seven victories and earned about 1.33 billion won for the season. Last year's money list winner Hong Jeong-min earned over 1.34 billion won with just three wins, reflecting the tour's growing popularity and expanding purses. This year's spotlight falls on the "Big Six": Yoo Hyun-jo (21), Hong Jeong-min, Bang Shin-sil (22), Noh Seung-hee (25), Park Hyun-kyung (26), and Lee Ye-won (23). Yoo claimed the Player of the Year award last season with remarkable consistency, finishing in the top 10 in 19 tournaments. Following her Rookie of the Year title in her first season and the Player of the Year and lowest stroke average awards in her second, expectations run high for her third year. After focusing on various shot types during winter training, she has set "versatility" as her keyword for the season. Hong aims to defend her money title, while long hitter Bang pursues her first major championship victory. All three shared the most-wins title last season with three victories each. Their goal this year is clear: claim the title outright. Lee Ye-won has won three titles in each of the past three seasons. One more victory would give her 10 career wins. Noh Seung-hee, who finished second on the money list last year with one win and five runner-up finishes, aims to convert near-misses into victories. Park Hyun-kyung, now in her eighth season with eight career wins, also has her sights set on 10. Kim Min-sol (20) appears the natural favorite for Rookie of the Year after winning twice on the regular tour last season but failing to qualify due to insufficient tournament appearances. However, Yang Hyo-jin (19) has issued a challenge. Yang, who topped the qualifying rankings, said confidently, "Since other rookies are aiming for one win in their first year, I'm setting my goal at two." Several records could fall this year. Park Min-ji (28), with 19 career victories, needs just one more win to tie the tour record of 20 wins held by the late Koo Ok-hee and Shin Ji-ae. There is also interest in whether anyone will break Park's single-season earnings record of 1.52 billion won set in 2021. Ahn Song-yi, 36, who holds the record for most cuts made at 291, is within sight of the milestone of 300.

Lee Ye-won, Park Hyun-kyung Race to 10 Career Wins as KLPGA Tour Opens

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