'Major Queen' Yoo Haeran Returns to the Domestic Stage After Two Years and Two Months

Invited to the Hite Jinro Championship
First KLPGA appearance since the Jeju Samdasoo Masters in August 2024
Top domestic stars Seo Gyurim and Kim Minsol aim to defend home turf

'Major Queen' Yoo Haeran is set to make her mark in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province.

Yoo Haeran will participate as an invited player in the 26th Hite Jinro Championship on the Korean Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour, which will be held from October 1 to October 4 at the Blue Heron Golf Club (par 72) in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province. Yoo received a tournament invitation. This will be her first appearance in a KLPGA Tour event in two years and two months, since her participation in the Jeju Samdasoo Masters in August 2024.

Yoo Hae-ran will participate as an invited player in the HiteJinro Championship. Photo by AFP Yonhap News

The Hite Jinro Championship is the final major tournament of the season. The event offers a total prize fund of KRW 1.5 billion, with KRW 270 million awarded to the winner. It is expected to be a major variable in the race for this year's money title. The Blue Heron Golf Club, where the championship will be held, is notorious for its difficulty—featuring long rough, narrow fairways, and challenging undulations on the greens. This year, the fairway width has been narrowed slightly from last year, set at between 18 and 20 meters, with the A rough measuring 35 mm and the B rough ranging from 100 to 120 mm, making precise and strategic tee shots essential for players.

Yoo Haeran is the same player who caused a sensation in the 2019 KLPGA Tour Jeju Samdasoo Masters, claiming an upset victory as an invited player. She quickly earned a regular tour card and secured the Rookie of the Year award in 2020 with one win. After accumulating five total wins on the KLPGA Tour, she topped the LPGA Qualifying (Q) Series in December 2022, earning her spot on the U.S. tour the following year.

In 2023, she notched one victory and finished in the top 10 six times, winning the Rookie of the Year award. Her form has soared this year, claiming two major titles at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship in June and the Amundi Evian Championship in July. She currently ranks second in season earnings, CME points, scoring average, and Player of the Year standings. Yoo has five career wins on the LPGA Tour.

Kyogyurim (left) and Kim Minsol will face off in a pride battle at the Hitejinro Championship. Provided by KLPGA

The nation's top contenders are also joining the field. Seo Gyurim (four wins) and Kim Minsol (three wins), who are vying for the top two spots in the individual title race, will continue their fierce rivalry. Seo Gyurim expressed confidence, saying, "I had a restful week and fully recharged my energy—I'm in great condition. I believe I can achieve a good result." Kim Minsol shared her determination as well, stating, "As this is the season's final major, I want to showcase my best performance. I'll focus on putting everything I practiced into play during the tournament."

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