'Little Giant' Lee Dayeon Stages Final-Hole Comeback... Breaks Her Run of Near-Misses

Dramatic Final-Round Birdie on 18th Secures Victory at Aurora World
10th Career Win, First Since Last September's Hana Financial Group Championship
Kim Suji Finishes Second; Seo Gyolim and Kim Jaehee Share Third Place

'Little Giant' Dayeon Lee finally broke through her winless streak in dramatic fashion.

On August 2, at the Aurora Golf & Resort (par 72) in Wonju, Gangwon Province, during the fourth round of the KLPGA Tour Aurora World Championship (total prize money 1 billion won), Lee carded one eagle, four birdies, and one triple bogey, finishing with a 3-under-par 69. With a final total of 12-under-par 276, Lee clinched the victory by a single stroke.

Notably, Lee secured a 2.6-meter birdie on the final 18th hole (par 4), where she had trailed by one stroke. The lead shifted when Suji Kim, who had been leading, missed a 2.2-meter par putt. This marked Lee's 10th career win, her first in 11 months since the Hana Financial Group Championship in September of last year. She earned a winner’s purse of 180 million won.

Dayeon Lee is smiling brightly while holding the trophy right after winning the Aurora World Championship. Photo by KLPGA

Lee started the day in a tie for third, two shots behind, and made a bright start with a birdie on the 3rd hole (par 4). However, she faltered with a triple bogey on the 5th hole (par 4). Her tee shot landed in the right rough, and her second shot was lost, causing her to drop three strokes in an instant. Lee turned around her momentum with a shot eagle on the 9th hole (par 4), then showcased her finishing power by adding three birdies on the 15th, 17th, and 18th holes to pull off a come-from-behind victory.

Lee truly embodies the spirit of a 'comeback golfer.' Since her debut in 2015, she has faced numerous injuries and bouts of bad luck but has repeatedly fought her way back to the top. In 2017, she underwent surgery after breaking her left ankle during practice, and in 2022, a torn wrist ligament forced her to end her season prematurely. Last year, she endured difficult times after a car accident.

Despite these setbacks, Lee always rose above the challenges. After earning her ninth win at the Hana Financial Group Championship last year, she was unable to add another title, repeatedly faltering at the brink of victory and thus suffering through her winless streak. She placed tied for second at the DB Women's Championship in April, tied for third at the E1 Charity Open in May, and tied for second at last month's Lotte Open—yet could not claim another trophy. In this tournament, Kim Suji's momentum seemed overwhelming, making victory appear out of reach for Lee. However, with a dramatic birdie on the final hole, she secured her 10th career win.

Dayeon Lee is cheering after making a birdie on the 18th hole of the 4th round at the Aurora World Championship. Photo by KLPGA

Right after her win, Lee said in an interview, “The shot eagle on the 9th hole helped me find my strength again. Focusing solely on my own game led to this great result,” she said with a big smile. She added, “I'm thrilled to achieve such a meaningful milestone in my 10th season with my sponsor, Mediheal. I hope to show great performances in the remaining tournaments.”

Kim Suji, who was the leader the previous day, recorded three birdies and three bogeys and could not improve her score, finishing in second place (11-under-par 277). With the runner-up prize of 110 million won, she became just the sixth player in history to surpass a total of 5 billion won in career earnings. Seo Gyolim, Kim Jaehee, Lee Yewon, and others finished tied for third at 8-under-par 280.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.