Journalist
Kang Sang-heon
ksh@ajunews.com
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Kim Hyo-joo wins LPGA Founders Cup for eighth career title, first since 2015 Kim Hyo-joo captured the LPGA Tour’s Fortinet Founders Cup, earning her eighth career victory. Kim shot a 1-over 73 on Monday in the final round at Sharon Heights Golf and Country Club in Menlo Park, California, with four birdies and five bogeys on the par-72 course. She finished at 16-under 272, edging Nelly Korda of the United States by one shot. Korda was 15-under 273. The winner’s check was $450,000 (about 680 million won). The victory was Kim’s first since the Ford Championship in March last year. She also became the eighth South Korean player to reach eight LPGA wins, joining a list that includes Pak Se-ri (25), Park In-bee (21), Ko Jin-young (15), Kim Sei-young (13), Shin Ji-ae (11), Choi Na-yeon (9) and Kim Mi-hyun (8). Kim led from the opening round through the final round for a wire-to-wire win, reclaiming the title 11 years after her first Founders Cup victory in 2015, her LPGA debut season. “Unexpected things happened, like being tied after leading,” Kim said in a televised interview after the win. “I have some regrets, but I’m happy to win,” she said with a smile. With Kim’s victory, South Korea has won two straight LPGA events, following Lee Mi-hyang’s win at the Blue Bay LPGA two weeks ago. It is the first time since 2020 that South Korean players have won two of the season’s first five tournaments. That year, Park Hee-young won the ISPS Handa Vic Open and Park In-bee won the ISPS Handa Australian Women’s Open. South Korean players also stood out on the leaderboard, placing four golfers in the top five. Kim Sei-young and Lim Jin-hee tied for third at 11-under 277. For Kim Sei-young, it was her second top-10 finish of the season after a tie for 10th at the Honda LPGA Thailand. Yoo Hae-ran finished tied for fifth at 10-under 278.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-23 10:27:00 -
DeChambeau wins LIV Golf South Africa for second straight title, earns $8.9 million in two weeks 브라이슨 디섐보(미국)가 LIV 골프 남아프리카공화국(총상금 3000만 달러) 대회에서 우승하며 2주 연속 정상에 올랐다. 디섐보는 22일(현지시간) 남아공 요하네스버그 인근 미드랜드의 더 클럽 앳 스테인시티(파71)에서 열린 최종 라운드까지 합계 26언더파 258타를 기록했다. 그는 욘 람(스페인)과 연장전에서 첫 홀인 18번 홀(파5)에서 팁인 버디를 잡아 우승을 확정했다. LIV 골프 개인전 통산 5승째다. 디섐보는 지난주 싱가포르 대회에 이어 2주 연속 LIV 골프 개인전 우승을 차지했다. 싱가포르 대회에서는 연장전 끝에 이태훈(캐나다)을 꺾고 정상에 올랐다. 두 대회 연속 우승으로 디섐보는 2주 동안 상금 890만 달러(약 134억원)를 벌었다. 개인전 우승 상금 400만 달러씩 800만 달러(약 120억원)를 챙겼고, 단체전에서는 6위와 1위로 합계 90만 달러(약 13억원)를 추가했다. 송영한은 합계 16언더파 268타로 공동 17위에 올랐다. 지난주 싱가포르 대회 준우승자 이태훈은 합계 12언더파 272타로 공동 31위를 기록했다. 안병훈은 합계 8언더파 276타로 공동 44위다.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-23 09:24:00 -
Im Sung-jae Ties for Fourth at Valspar Championship as Matt Fitzpatrick Wins Im Sung-jae’s bid for his first PGA Tour victory in 4 years and 5 months fell short after he faltered in the final round of the Valspar Championship. Im shot a 3-over 74 on Sunday in the fourth round at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club’s Copperhead Course (par 71) in Palm Harbor, Florida, with two birdies and five bogeys. The tournament purse was $9.1 million. After starting the day alone in first with a two-shot lead, Im finished at 8-under 276, tied for fourth. He opened with back-to-back bogeys on Nos. 2 and 3 and made five bogeys through the par-4 10th, slipping out of contention for his third career PGA Tour title. Still, the result marked his first top-10 finish of the season and a step forward after a wrist injury sidelined him from tournaments in January and February. He struggled upon returning in March, missing the cut at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and The Players Championship. At this event, he led outright after each of the first three rounds. Matt Fitzpatrick of England won with a closing rally, finishing at 11-under 273. He earned $1,638,000 (about 2.46 billion won) in prize money. It was Fitzpatrick’s third PGA Tour title, following the 2022 U.S. Open and the 2023 RBC Heritage. Kim Seong-hyeon finished tied for seventh at 7-under 277, his first top-10 since a tie for fourth at the 2024 May CJ Cup Byron Nelson, 1 year and 10 months ago. Kim Joo-hyung ended tied for 18th at 4-under 280.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-23 08:42:38 -
Samchully wins Karma-Diocean Cup KLPGA club team championship Samchully Golf Team captured the title at the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association club team championship. Samchully posted a combined 11-under 61 in the third and final round of the Karma-Diocean Cup Golf Club Team Championship with ANEW GOLF on March 22 at The Ocean Country Club (par 72) in Yeosu, South Jeolla Province. With a tournament total of 19-under 197, Samchully beat the Korea Golf Association women’s national team (17-under 199) by two strokes to lift the trophy. The winner’s prize was 50 million won. Launched in 2022, the event marked its fifth edition this year and is the country’s only KLPGA club team competition. Ten teams competed, including inaugural champion Mediheal, Samchully, SBI Savings Bank, Daebo Construction, Karma, Daebang Construction, Daesun Distilling, Amano Korea, Rejuran Golf Team and the KGA women’s national team. The first and second rounds were played in foursomes, with two players alternating shots with one ball. The final round used a scramble format, with teammates choosing the better-positioned ball for the next shot. Samchully’s roster includes 11 KLPGA Tour players: Ko Ji-won, Ko Ji-woo, Ma Da-som, Park Bo-gyeom, Lee Jae-yoon, Lee Se-hee, Seo Gyo-rim, Jeon Ye-seong, Kim Min-ju, Hong Jin-young and Choi Ga-bin. Jeon and Seo played the final round, making a birdie at the par-3 12th and then cutting two more strokes over the next six holes to secure the team’s first title in the event. The KGA team of Kim Gyu-min and Yang Yun-seo briefly closed within one stroke in the final round but finished second. SBI Savings Bank, represented by Kim Ga-hee and Kim Ji-yoon, took third at 13-under 203.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-22 19:33:00 -
SSG’s Kim Gwang-hyeon to Have Shoulder Surgery; Rehab Expected to Take 6+ Months SSG Landers left-hander Kim Gwang-hyeon will undergo shoulder surgery. SSG said March 22 that Kim was diagnosed with a bone spur in the back of his left shoulder and will have surgery at a hospital in Nagoya, Japan, later this month. The club said rehabilitation is expected to take more than six months and that it will fully support Kim so he can focus on recovery. In a post on social media, Kim said he decided on surgery after “a lot of 고민.” He wrote that he understands shoulder surgery can be “devastating” for a baseball player, but said he hopes it will allow him to return healthier and stay on the mound “even one year longer.” He apologized to fans and teammates for being sidelined by injury. Kim felt shoulder pain during training at SSG’s spring camp in the United States on Feb. 15 and returned to South Korea. Tests found a bone spur in the back of his left shoulder, a condition in which repeated pitching causes bone to grow and irritate surrounding areas. To avoid surgery, Kim began a customized rehabilitation program in Japan on March 9, but it was ultimately determined that rehab alone would not resolve the injury. The surgery poses a major threat to Kim’s career, as shoulder operations are considered especially risky for pitchers. Given that Kim was born in 1988, there are concerns his recovery could be slow and that he could miss the entire season. Kim, who debuted in 2007, has a 180-108 record with two holds and a 3.43 ERA in 415 KBO League games. He has pitched 2,321 2/3 innings with 2,020 strikeouts and ranks third on the league’s career wins list.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-22 17:12:00 -
South Korea’s Lee Sang-ho Wins Season-Ending Snowboard World Cup, Claims Record Fifth Title Lee Sang-ho, known as "Cabbage Boy," won the final event of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) Snowboard World Cup alpine season. Lee defeated Austria’s Christoph Karner in the men’s parallel slalom final at the 2025-2026 FIS Snowboard World Cup in Winterberg, Germany, on March 21 local time. The victory was Lee’s fifth career World Cup win, making him the first South Korean to reach five FIS World Cup victories. Choi Ga-on, who won gold in the women’s snowboard halfpipe at this year’s Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics, is second among South Koreans in this category with four World Cup wins. Lee closed the season with two gold medals and one silver, including gold at the Slovenia World Cup in February and silver at an event in Poland in March. In a post on social media, Lee said he did his best to meet the expectations of those who supported him but still had many regrets about the season. He added that their support helped him finish strong despite difficult conditions, and he thanked them sincerely.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-22 14:54:00 -
TaylorMade Names Park Se-ri as Brand Ambassador TaylorMade recently said it has selected Park Se-ri, a former South Korea national golf team coach, as a brand ambassador. Park is a leading figure in South Korean golf, highlighted by her 1998 U.S. Women’s Open title and 25 LPGA Tour victories, including five major championships. In 2007, she became the first South Korean player inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. After retiring, Park has worked as a coach and mentor, contributing to player development and the growth of golf culture. She served as the national team coach at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, sharing in Park In-bee’s gold medal win. TaylorMade said its relationship with Park began in 2002, when the sides signed a major equipment deal. Park said using clubs that fit a player is most important and that TaylorMade clubs have helped her over the years. TaylorMade said the partnership will support an integrated performance branding strategy spanning both clubs and apparel. The company also plans support activities aimed at expanding participation in golf and working with local communities. It said it will provide test balls and clubs for junior golfers and visitors at “SERI PAK with Yongin” in Yongin as part of efforts to broaden golf culture. Looking back on her playing career, Park said it mattered most whether a brand builds golf with clear standards and direction. She said she felt TaylorMade has consistently shown the essence of golf through ongoing innovation, and that led to the partnership. A TaylorMade official said Park is a symbolic figure in South Korean golf and that her spirit of challenge and philosophy on performance align with the company’s brand direction. The official said TaylorMade will pursue a range of activities to show synergy between clubs and apparel and further strengthen its premium brand position.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-22 10:54:00 -
Woo Sang-hyeok Takes Bronze in Men’s High Jump at World Indoor Championships Woo Sang-hyeok won a medal for the fourth straight time at the World Athletics Indoor Championships, taking a share of bronze in the men’s high jump. Woo cleared 2.26 meters to finish tied for third in the final held March 21 (Korea time) at the Kujawsko-Pomorska Arena in Torun, Poland. The defending champion fell short of a repeat title but extended his medal streak at the event. Woo opened by clearing 2.17 meters on his first attempt, then made 2.22 and 2.26 on his first tries as well. He could not get over 2.30. On his first attempt, his right thigh brushed the bar. He failed again on the second attempt when his lower body caught the bar, and missed on his third try to end with 2.26. Oleh Doroshchuk of Ukraine won gold after clearing 2.30 on his first attempt. Erick Portillo of Mexico took silver by clearing 2.30 on his third attempt. Paris Olympic champion Hamish Kerr of New Zealand and silver medalist Shelby McEwen of the United States did not compete.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-22 10:36:00 -
Majesty Golf launches Prestigio 14 flagship clubs, touting new Hyperion Titanium II Majesty Golf has released the Prestigio 14, the 14th model in its premium Prestigio club line. Marketed under the slogan “Quality Reinvented,” the company described the Prestigio 14 as a flagship that brings together 55 years of craftsmanship and technology development, aiming to improve distance, forgiveness, feel and design. At a new-product launch media day held March 18 at Club D Cheongdam in Seoul’s Gangnam district, Majesty Golf CEO Jeong Byeong-ho said the company has “devoted itself to making the best golf clubs for 55 years” and is “redefining what quality means in the golf world” with the Prestigio 14. “This product is the result of our team’s relentless pursuit of perfection,” he said. A key element of the new model is a premium material the company calls Hyperion Titanium II. Majesty Golf said its strength and rebound performance allow an ultra-thin face design, creating a wider, lighter area for higher ball speed. Kimura Hideki, the company’s chief product officer, said the design focused on boosting distance and making the clubs easier to hit for the South Korean market. He said Hyperion Titanium II was used to maximize high-rebound performance. Kimura said all clubs share an “Optimal Core Impact” design, with a precisely tuned sweet spot in the center of the face to produce a clear impact feel. He said it also limits performance loss on off-center hits, balancing distance and forgiveness. Majesty Golf highlighted model-specific designs across the lineup. The driver uses a “wing tail” design inspired by a phoenix’s tail feathers to increase moment of inertia and improve straight-line stability, the company said. For fairway woods and hybrids, it said a structure using tungsten across the sole places 40% to 60% of the head’s total weight in the sole to lower the center of gravity more efficiently. For irons, the company said it applied its most extensive nine-layer laminated badge to absorb noise at impact for a softer feel. The exterior adopts a “kirigane” style inspired by traditional decorative techniques, with fine laser-etched lines on a gold-colored head, it said. Kim Ja-young, a former professional golfer who serves as a Majesty Golf ambassador, said she trusts the brand because it “keeps striving and growing” to make better clubs. She said once golfers have a stable swing, getting help from equipment can be a smart choice, adding that in that sense the Prestigio 14 could be an innovative club for golfers. Majesty Golf said it will run a purchase promotion through June 30 to mark the launch. Buyers of a Prestigio 14 driver will receive logo balls and a ball case, while buyers of an iron set will receive a carrier. The company said it will also select 14 buyers by drawing and invite them to the “Majesty Invitational” tournament.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-19 09:48:00 -
Crown Haitai chairman Yoon Young-dal elected third president of pro billiards association PBA Yoon Young-dal, chairman of Crown Haitai Confectionery, has been elected to lead the Professional Billiards Association (PBA). The PBA said March 18 that its board, at the association’s seventh-term fourth meeting, selected Yoon as the third PBA president. His term will run for three years, through March 2029. The PBA said Yoon is known for his strong interest in professional billiards and that he founded and operated the Crown Haitai Laon team in the early days of the pro circuit. Citing his activities in the arts and culture sector, the association said it considers him well suited to guide stable growth and a new leap for the sport. Yoon plans to pursue strategies aimed at sustained growth, expanding the fan base and strengthening global competitiveness. The PBA said he also intends to broaden international exchanges and boost league competitiveness so pro billiards can grow beyond South Korea. Kim Young-soo, who served as the first and second PBA president over the past seven years, is stepping down after helping launch the pro league and build its foundation, the PBA said. Yoon’s inauguration ceremony will be held next month on the 10th at the Goyang KINTEX PBA Stadium in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-18 15:21:00