South Korea's hard-charging Hwang Yu-min, 23, of Lotte is making strides toward this year's LPGA Rookie of the Year title. The player, who finished a disappointing second in the 2023 KLPGA rookie points race, is aiming to settle that score on the U.S. stage. With about a third of the tour season complete, she sits atop the rookie standings. Should Hwang clinch the honor this year, she would become the first Korean Rookie of the Year since Yoo Hae-ran in 2023, ending a two-year drought.
Hwang shot a 1-over 73 with two birdies, one bogey and a double bogey in the final round of the LPGA's Mizuho Americas Open ($3.25 million purse) at Mountain Ridge Country Club (par 72) in New Jersey on Sunday, finishing tied for 34th at 1 over. World No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand successfully defended her title at 13 under for her second win of the season, while Choi Hye-jin was the top Korean finisher, tied for third at 8 under.
Hwang dropped three shots on the front nine of the final round and was at risk of earning just five rookie points, but she rebounded with two birdies on the back nine to collect 16 points at the event. With 11 of the 31 LPGA tournaments completed, Hwang has amassed 291 rookie points, 52 points ahead of second-place Erika Hara of Japan. Hara, a five-time winner on the Japanese tour, tied for ninth at 5 under this week, narrowing the gap considerably. Japanese players won the award in both 2024 and 2025, heightening interest in the duel with Hara.
The LPGA Rookie of the Year is one of the tour's three official season-long honors, alongside Player of the Year and the Vare Trophy for lowest scoring average. Rookie points are awarded as follows: 150 for a win, 80 for second, 75 for third, 50 for 10th, 30 for 20th and 10 for 40th. Only players who make the cut earn points, and everyone finishing 41st or lower receives five points. When two players share second, both receive 80 points, and major championships award double points.
Hwang earned her 2025 LPGA card after winning the LPGA's Lotte Championship in Hawaii last year as a sponsor's invite. In Korea, despite a stellar rookie season with one win and one runner-up finish, she lost the KLPGA Rookie of the Year title to Kim Min-byeol. A win this year would give her her first Rookie of the Year title. After the Mizuho event, Hwang told the Seoul Economic Daily, "There are still plenty of tournaments left, so I'm not focused too much on the rookie award, but it would be wonderful to win it." She added, "My shots were a bit off early in the season, but I'm regaining my feel. I think a win will come when my short game and putting back me up." Having drunk formula milk daily to maintain her weight during her KLPGA days, she has brought formula products from sponsor Lotte to the U.S. to keep up the routine.
The environment on and off the American tour is still unfamiliar, differing from Korea's. But with her trademark composure, she is steadily piling up points. In her nine starts this year, her only top-10 finish was a tie for fifth at the season opener, but she has missed just one cut — steady performance in a new environment.
"I didn't expect to post great results right from the start, so things are going roughly as I anticipated," Hwang said. "There have been unexpected moments when my shots faltered, but I'm accepting those as experiences I need to go through." She added, "Thanks to the two-year exemption from the Hawaii win, I'm playing without any pressure despite being a rookie. That's been the biggest help."
"Team Hwang Yu-min" in the U.S. consists of four people: caddie Park Jung-geun, manager Kim Yu-jeong, her mother and Hwang herself. She has also befriended U.S.-born tour mate Ju Su-bin, who has helped her adjust. "I'm still adapting to the language, but there's no doubt this is the best environment for golf," Hwang said. Park, who also caddied for her in Korea, has been a steady presence on the LPGA Tour. He has carried her bag continuously since her KLPGA debut in 2023.
Hwang's next start is the U.S. Women's Open, a major beginning June 4 at Riviera Country Club in California. In July, she plans to compete in the KLPGA Tour's Lotte Open, hosted by her sponsor.
