Ryu So-yeon, a former world No. 1 player in women’s professional golf, performed a meaningful “last dance.”
Ryu participated in the Chevron Championship (total prize money of 7.9 million U.S. dollars), the first major tournament of the season of the LPGA Tour, which ended at The Club Carlton Woods (par 72) in Woodlands, Texas on Tuesday (Korea time). Ryu finished the final stage after failing to make the 7-over-par cut.
Ryu So-yeon was the winner of the 2017 event. At the event, which was held under the name ANA Inspiration, Ryu lifted her second major trophy of the LPGA Tour. “It was an unforgettable place where I jumped into the pond next to the green on the 18th hole after winning the championship, so I decided to retire,” she said. With the victory, Ryu became the third Korean to rank No. 1 in the world rankings after Shin Ji-ae and Park In-bee.
Ryu has completed her 16-year professional career that she has never stopped. Having made her name known by winning gold medals in the women’s individual and team events at the Doha Asian Games, Ryu has achieved 18 wins overall, including 10 wins in the Korean Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) tour and six wins in the LPGA tour. She has also become champion of five national title competitions ranging from the U.S. Women’s Open, the Korean Women’s Open, the Japanese Women’s Open, the Canadian Women’s Open and the Chinese Women’s Open.
After her retirement, Ryu said, “I feel like I have to prepare for the next competition. I’m grateful for everything I’ve enjoyed. Looking back, I was strict with myself, and I wasn’t truly proud. I want to be proud of myself and live a normal life from now on.”
After finishing her retirement, Ryu will take the podium on May 28. She will take the podium at the IS Sports Marketing Summit Academy (SMSA) hosted by the Daily Sports to introduce her golf life story to the students.
The Chevron Championship was won by Nelly Koda of the U.S., who recorded 15-under 275 overall. Koda has won five consecutive championships, tying the record for most consecutive wins in the LPGA tour. Koda is the third golfer in her career after Nancy Lopez of the U.S. in 1978 and Annika Sorenstam of Sweden in 2005. Koda also had a ceremony to fall into the pond right after winning the championship.
Lee, who aimed to win her first LPGA Tour victory by leading through the second round, faltered as she shot more than 70 pars in the third and fourth rounds. Lee ranked eighth with 6-under 282. Yoo, who rose to the top with no bogey in the second and third rounds, made four bogeys (two birdies) in the final round alone, ranking fifth with a total of 9-under 279.
BY: 토토