Lee Yeon-woo is a financial journalist at The Korea Times. Her wide range of reporting includes policies, macroeconomics, stock market, companies and even crypto. She is passionate about connecting the dots in Korean finance and making it easier for foreign nationals to understand. Based on her previous experience as a national reporter, she also has a keen interest in social issues within the sector, including gender equality and ESG. Your tips and insights are always appreciated. You can send them to yanu@koreatimes.co.kr.
Korean golfer with autism wins US Adaptive Open
Simon Seung-min Lee poses with the trophy after winning the U.S. Adaptive Open at Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina, Wednesday (local time). Yonhap
By Lee Yeon-woo
By Lee Yeon-woo
Simon Seung-min Lee, an autistic 25-year-old professional golfer, won the inaugural U.S. Adaptive Open, Wednesday (local time), making history as the first winner of the tournament.
“I'm so happy. It feels like I'm dreaming,” Lee said in his speech after winning.
After finishing 54 holes with a 3-under 213 at Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina, he had to compete in a two-hole aggregate playoff with Felix Norman of Sweden and defeated the Swede by two strokes.
Once securing his win, after the last stroke, he got doused with water from his team and let out a celebratory howl.
“Today, I played with my mind thinking, I can do it, I can do it, I can do it, I can do it,” Lee said.
The U.S. Adaptive Open is a championship game for golfers with an impairment of some kind. It is hosted by the United States Golf Association (USGA) with 96 golfers ― 78 male and 18 female golfers ― from 11 countries competing in eight different categories.
The Korean golfer competed in the intellectual impairment category. Lee was the only player under par throughout the three rounds of the tournament.
Lee's autistic symptoms began around the age of three in the U.S. when his father was stationed as a diplomat there. Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Level-3, he is known to find it hard to socialize with people.
However, it was through golf that he was able to excel. As he fell in love with the white golf ball soaring into the sky, Lee started his golf career at the age of 14. Since then, he has used golf as a way to communicate with people. His coach, Kim Jong-pil, praised his remarkable memory and motor skills.
He earned his Korean PGA Tour card in 2017 on his sixth attempt and has become the first player with a developmental disability to do so.
“In the future, I will work harder to show that any golfer can compete on the PGA Tour,” Lee said after the game. “My wish is to be remembered as a golfer who never gave up.”