Star golfer Yoon Ina shines upon comeback with impressive form
After returning to the KLPGA Tour this year following the lifting of her penalty for an infraction, Yoon Ina is having a successful first half of the season. Courtesy of KLPGA
Yoon Ina, 21, has made a remarkable return to the golf scene, proving that her star quality remains undiminished. Despite an 18-month hiatus due to a penalty for a delayed report of an infraction, her sharp shot-making skills have made her long absence seem inconsequential.
Her performance has been consistently impressive, securing three runner-up finishes. Yoon's standings are also noteworthy: she ranks fourth in player points, fifth in prize money, firsr in average birdies, second in average score, second in greens in regulation and second in top-10 finishes.
In an interview at the High1 Resort Country Club in Jeongseon County, Gangwon Province, the site of the final tournament of the first half of the 2024 KLPGA Tour season, Yoon reflected on her comeback.
"Honestly, I didn't expect to perform this well so quickly," she said. "I had a fairly long break and distanced myself from golf for a while. But within a short period, I’ve been competing for wins and making the cut."
She expressed immense satisfaction with her high ranking in top-10 finishes. "I'm incredibly pleased with my performance. If I had to rate it, I'd give myself a perfect score of 100 out of 100."
Yoon returned to the golf scene in early April at the Doosan E&C We’ve Championship, starting the season with a bow to the gallery on the 1st hole of the 1st round.
On the third day of the KLPGA Mediheal-Hankook Ilbo Championship at Sky Course, Club 72 in Incheon, Yoon Ina heads to the next hole, April 12. Korea Times photo by Wang Tae-seok
She has played each tournament with a heart full of gratitude, focusing on the process rather than obsessing over results.
“The key to my consistent performance in the first half of the season was focusing on the process and doing my best in each moment rather than fixating on the outcomes,” she said.
Yoon finished her comeback debut tied for 34th place but made a strong impression in her second tournament, the Mediheal-Hankook Ilbo Championship.
She shot nine birdies with no bogeys in the 1st round, taking a share of the lead. Although she couldn't maintain her lead and finished tied for 11th, this performance set the stage for a successful run, including a 9th place finish at the Chris F&C KLPGA Championship in late April and a runner-up finish at the NH Investment & Securities Ladies Championship in early May.
She continued to compete for victories, finishing in playoffs at the BC Card Hankyung Ladies Cup in June and the Lotte Open earlier this month, though she fell short in the final moments.
Yoon Ina tees off on the 2nd hole during the 4th round of the High1 Resort Women's Open on Sunday. Courtesy of KLPGA
'Winning comes as gift'
Reflecting on her achievements, Yoon said, “Just creating opportunities to win is something I am thankful for.”
However, she expressed some regret over her lack of familiarity with the rules during the Nexen-Saintnine Masters in April and the Doosan Match Play in May.
Yoon acknowledged areas for improvement, saying, “I still lack precision and sharpness. I need to practice my iron shots more and focus more deeply on approach shots and putting around the green.” She noted that her ability to adapt quickly and manage her game well contributed to her positive results, even when her shots and putts were not perfect.
Yoon has scheduled practice rounds at several courses she has not previously played, including the Jade Palace and Iksan Country Club, in preparation for the second half of the season starting with the Jeju Samdasoo Masters on Aug. 1.
Yoon emphasized the importance of physical preparation for the second half, saying, “I need to train more and maintain a strong body to avoid the situations that led to two withdrawals in the first half. I plan to do more weight training and eat well to recover fully.”
As she gears up to pursue her second career victory in the second half, Yoon said, “Winning comes as a gift, so I don’t set it as my goal. Instead, I focus on building the skills necessary to win.”
Yoon Ina in the 1st round of the Mediheal-Hankook Ilbo Championship / Korea Times file
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by generative AI and edited by staff of The Korea Times.