The Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour's "first rule" for first-round pairings is to group the defending champion, the most recent tournament winner, and the season's money leader together.
At the NH Investment & Securities Ladies Championship, which begins Thursday at Suwon Country Club's New Course (par 72) in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, Lee Ye-won is the defending champion. She won in both 2024 and 2025, and is chasing a third consecutive title this year. The most recent tournament winner was Yoo Hyun-jo, who captured the DB Women's Championship. However, Yoo is skipping the domestic event this week to compete in the World Ladies Championship Salonpas Cup, a major on the Japan LPGA (JLPGA) Tour. With Yoo absent, Lee Ye-won became the most recent winner by default, having also claimed the Duckshin EPC Championship.
Other groupings also promise plenty of intrigue, including "Cho Ah-yeon-Kim Soo-ji-Jung Yun-ji," "Kim Si-hyun-Kim Min-sun7-Seo Kyo-rim," "Lee Da-yeon-Park Hyun-kyung-Han Jin-sun," and "Ko Ji-won-Jeon Ye-seong-Lim Jin-young."
As a result, the defending champion's group for the first round features Lee Ye-won alongside money-list leader Kim Min-sol and invited player Kim Hyo-joo, the world No. 3. Kim Hyo-joo, in top form with two LPGA Tour victories this year, is drawing attention as she seeks her first KLPGA Tour win in four years and seven months, since the SK Networks·Seoul Economic Daily Ladies Classic in October 2021.
A thrilling long-drive showdown has also been arranged — and it will be a highly unusual one.
The "long-hitter group" includes Bang Shin-sil, who topped the KLPGA Tour's driving distance rankings in both 2023 and 2024. Although she currently sits eighth in driving distance this year at 249.50 yards, no one would dispute that she remains Korea's premier long hitter. She is joined by "mom golfer" Park Joo-young, who ranks fourth in driving distance this season at 254.10 yards. Born in 1990, Park (36) is the second-oldest player on tour after Ahn Sun-ju (39), and the two are the only mom golfers competing. Yet Park's driving defies both age and circumstance. A natural long hitter, she has climbed from 12th in driving distance last year to a higher ranking this season.
Another distinctive long hitter has been added to the group: middle school golfer Kim Seo-ah, who drew attention at April's season-opening The Siena Open by blasting drives close to 300 yards. Competing as a recommended player, she will go head-to-head with the KLPGA's leading long hitters.
