Hite Jinro Championship Set to Open: All Eyes on Four Major Titles, the Autumn Queen, and Yoon Ina

Autumn, the perfect season for golf, has arrived, and with it, an exciting climax to the Korean women's professional golf season. Fans are eagerly awaiting the Hite Jinro Championship, the final major tournament of the 2024 KLPGA Tour, boasting a wealth of drama and storylines set against the crisp backdrop of early fall.

The Hite Jinro Championship tees off from September 25 to 28 at Blue Heron Country Club (par 72) in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province. A total prize purse of 1.5 billion KRW is at stake, as 108 players from both domestic and international tours vie for the coveted trophy.

The championship offers an abundance of intriguing focal points. Foremost among them is the return of Yoon Ina, currently playing as a rookie on the LPGA Tour, who will compete out of loyalty to her former sponsor. Despite claiming both the prize money leader and player of the year titles last season before heading overseas, Yoon Ina's LPGA debut has been challenging. Without a single top-10 finish, she currently ranks 80th in points and faces uncertainty over securing her full playing status for next season. The demanding schedule, which sees her flying out immediately after this tournament, only adds pressure, but a strong showing here could spark a turnaround in her international career.

Among KLPGA contenders, all eyes are on whether Da Yeon Lee can achieve the unprecedented feat of capturing all four of Korea's major titles. Having already won the Korea Women's Open, KLPGA Championship, and Hanwha Classic, victory here would make Lee the first domestic golfer to collect all four major trophies.

Lee comes into the event brimming with confidence, having clinched her first win of the season at the Hana Financial Group Championship on September 21, where she outdueled Minjee Lee (then ranked No. 4, now No. 3 globally) in a playoff. Lee remarked, "It would be a lie to say there’s no pressure about (winning all four majors), but it’s the kind of pressure I welcome. The major-level course setup will be challenging, but I'll prepare thoroughly and do my best to set a new record."

This year’s major champions—Jung Min Hong, who won the KLPGA Championship; Dong Eun Lee, the Korea Women's Open victor; and Hyun Jo Yoo, who successfully defended her KB Financial Star Championship title—are all in the lineup, each intent on furthering their impact this season.

Hyun Jo Yoo, currently leading the Player of the Year points standings, shared her mindset: "Ever since my amateur days, whenever someone asked which tournament I most wanted to win on the KLPGA Tour, my answer was always this one. The course is extremely challenging, and honestly, I have yet to find a clear strategy. My current form and shots feel great, and this year, I am determined to find the winning formula and finally achieve my goal."

Much anticipation also surrounds Bang Shin Sil and Ye Won Lee, who are locked in a tight race for most wins of the season, each with three victories.

As summer heat gives way to cool autumn breezes, 'Autumn Queen' Soo Ji Kim is set to defend her title. Notably, five of Kim's six career titles have come in September and October. "It's a tremendous honor to have the chance to defend a title at the same event for a second time," Kim said. "I want to enjoy this moment and do my best to deliver another strong result, just like last year."

Meanwhile, tournament host Hite Jinro Co., Ltd. is also committed to social responsibility initiatives surrounding the event. Since 2008, the company has donated 5% of the total prize money each year, and the cumulative donations have now surpassed 700 million KRW, edging towards the 800 million mark. This year’s planned donations amount to 80 million KRW (75 million from the tournament, plus 5 million from the Family Golf Challenge winning team), and a vehicle for disabled wheelchair users will also be donated.

Note “This article was translated from the original Korean version using AI assistance, and subsequently edited by a native-speaking journalist.”

Photo=MHN DB, KLPGA