"I have no regrets about my career because I gave my best in every moment," Lee Jung-min said after her retirement ceremony on October 15 at H1 Club in Icheon, South Korea. Lee, who achieved 11 wins on the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour, concluded her 17-year playing career due to a wrist injury.
The retirement ceremony coincided with the official practice day before the KLPGA Tour Iceberg Golf & Seoul Newspaper Open, which has a total prize pool of 1.5 billion won. Fellow players and juniors attended the event to celebrate Lee's final chapter, while friends from her childhood, who learned golf from the same coach, supported her with a coffee truck.
Lee appeared cheerful and expressed that she did not feel sad about retiring. "Even if I were to break something tomorrow or could no longer play golf, I wouldn’t regret it because I gave my all every day. Even when I hit an out-of-bounds ball, I did my best in that moment," she said, smiling. "So, retiring feels refreshing rather than bittersweet."
Lee debuted on the regular tour in 2010, claiming her first victory at the Doosan Match Play Championship that May. She considers this win her most memorable, recalling, "I didn’t know what to do or how to hold the trophy, so it had the most impact on me personally."
In 2014, Lee secured two wins, followed by three in 2015, establishing herself as a top player on the tour. However, after winning the World Ladies Championship in March 2016, she faced a five-year, seven-month winless streak. She broke this drought with her ninth victory at the Dongbu Construction & Korea Land Trust Championship in October 2021, followed by her tenth win at the PLK Pacific Links Korea Championship in December 2022.
The pinnacle of her career came in April 2024 when she won her first major title at the 46th KLPGA Championship, finishing with a total score of 23-under-par 265, tying the record for the lowest score over 72 holes in KLPGA history. This victory marked her 11th and final win.
Injuries followed her major win, as Lee suffered a torn cartilage in her left wrist. Although her condition improved at times, it worsened with colder weather and longer roughs.
"The injured area would tighten up with just a little play, making it hard for me to swing freely," she explained. "Since I couldn’t perform at the level I wanted, I decided it was time to retire."
Lee still holds a tour card until next year due to her major victory in 2024, but she emphasized that her retirement was based on her own standards, not just her tour status.
"I always said that if I couldn’t meet my own standards, I should leave regardless of my tour card status," she noted. "I initially planned to retire last year, but my main sponsor encouraged me to take another year to enjoy my professional career, which is why I postponed it."
As the second half of the season progressed, the rough conditions worsened, leading to a decline in her wrist's condition. Lee decided to compete only until the Hana Financial Group Championship, which became her final tournament in September. She did not participate in the Iceberg Golf & Seoul Newspaper Open, her retirement event.
"If I had torn my wrist during my last match, I would have had to withdraw, which I didn’t want to happen," she said. "I thought it would be better to finish on the official practice day instead of competing."
Throughout her career, Lee was often described as lacking competitive drive. She clarified, "I don’t dislike losing, but my focus was always on myself rather than my opponents. If I couldn’t perform due to nerves, I felt I lost. If I managed to perform despite being nervous, I felt I had won against myself. I have a strong competitive spirit, just not directed at others."
When asked to grade her career, Lee responded with a perfect score of 1000 out of 100. "Since childhood, I preferred individual sports over competitive games. Given my personality, I think a score of 1000 is justified because I did my best in every situation," she said.
Many juniors aspire to emulate Lee, known for her precise iron shots and nicknamed "girl crush." When asked why juniors follow her, she said, "When I was younger, golf was a strict individual sport. Now, the atmosphere is more relaxed. I tried to be friendly and approachable with my juniors, treating them more like friends than strict mentees."
Lee left two pieces of advice for her juniors: avoid injuries and not to obsess over the ball. "Even minor injuries can affect your entire body, so staying healthy is crucial," she advised. "The ball will always be on the course, so I hope they don’t become too fixated on each shot and its outcome."
As for her post-retirement plans, Lee has not made any decisions yet. She often heard advice to prepare for life after retirement as she entered her 30s, but she focused solely on her career as an athlete. "Thinking about life after retirement made me feel weak," she said.
"For now, I plan to take a break like a jobless person. I believe that by clearing my mind, something will fill it later," she added. "Whatever I do, I think it will be related to golf."
During her break, Lee plans to enjoy skiing. Earlier this year, she obtained a Level 1 Teaching Certification in skiing. "I’m just waiting for winter to arrive," she said, laughing. "In golf, I can predict what will happen when I’m nervous, but skiing is unpredictable, which made me very nervous during my exam."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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