Kim A-rim's victory is a model, and to 'Yoon Na' in 'Strong hitter' Yoon Na or LPGA
Kim A-rim's victory is a model, and to 'Yoon Na' in 'Strong hitter' Yoon Na or LPGA
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Yoon Na-na (22, Solaire), who has conquered the Korean stage, will finally make her debut on the U.S. stage. Yoon Na will make her debut to tour fans through the Founders Cup (total prize money of 2 million dollars) of the LPGA Tour, which will be held at Breddon Eaton Country Club (par 71) in Florida for four days from the 7th (Korea time).
In December last year, Yoon ranked eighth in the final round of the LPGA qualifying series, and acquired the right to participate in the 2025 season tour. Last year, she won three gold medals including No. 1 in points (535 points), No. 1 in prize money (1.21 billion won or 11.41 million won or 7.0526 in average at-bats) at the KLPGA Tour.
Yoon Na-na, who joined the KLPGA Tour in 2021, was suspended for three years after belatedly reporting "Ogu (誤球) play (playing the ball, not her own)" at the 2022 Korean Women's Open. Since then, the disciplinary action has been reduced to one and a half years, and she returned to the KLPGA Tour last year, participating in 25 competitions of the season, and has performed steadily, including one championship (Jeju Samdasoo Masters) and four runner-ups. 안전놀이터
Yoon's strength is her long-range shots. Having ranked first in the KLPGA driver shots in 2022 (264.4517 yards on average), she ranked second in the tour (254.9820 yards on average) last year when she returned from disciplinary action.
Attention is focusing on whether Yoon's long shot will also work on the LPGA Tour, which is full of long hitters. Kim A-rim (30), who won the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions on the 4th, had an average driving distance of 275 yards in the competition. Takeda Rio (21), Yoon's competitor for the Rookie of the Year award and a Japanese long hitter who debuted on the LPGA Tour one tournament ahead of Yoon, was also ranked at the top of the list (8th) with 263 yards of drive shots on average. Takeda, who ranked as the "long hit queen" with an average of 263.19 yards on the JLPGA tour last year, flew longer than Yoon during the same period.
LPGA players also have better accuracy in iron shots and putts. In 2021, Kim ranked fifth in average driving distance (276.76 yards) in the LPGA, but due to her weakness in putts, she had no win for about four years. Only after complementing her putts and short games was she able to lift the Lotte Championship trophy in November last year and the LPGA Open trophy this year in a short period of time.
For Yoon Na-na, who is aiming for the Rookie of the Year award, Kim's case deserves a mirror image. Yoon displayed impressive green accuracy rate (2nd place, 78.3626 percent), which was among the top-ranked players in the KLPGA tour last year. However, her accuracy rate of fairway accuracy rate (63rd place, 69.1756 percent) and average putt (31st, 29.9079 percent) showed a slight decline.
Yoon has prepared for her LPGA debut with her caddies and short game coaches. "Seniors who entered the LPGA first advised me that short games are important. After playing the Q series (LPGA), the grass is different from Korean conversation halls, and there were many things to pay attention to," Yoon said. "I don't think it will be easy (for the rookie of the year competition). The biggest competitor is myself. If I become better than yesterday and overcome (difficulties), I will be closer to the Rookie of the Year award."