Kim MinByeol Interview

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"Rookie of the Year" Kim Minbyeol: "Next Year, I Aim to Erase the Blemish of Not Winning"

By Nowoo Rae, Asia Economy | December 1, 2023, 7:00 AM, Updated 7:01 AM

Kim Minbyeol emerged as the "Rookie of the Year" in the highly competitive 2023 Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour, filled with exceptionally talented rookies. In an interview with Asia Economy on December 1, Kim expressed her mixed feelings: "It was a season of great learning and feeling, and while I'm thrilled to be Rookie of the Year, not winning was a disappointment." She hopes to follow in the footsteps of Lee Yewon, aspiring to claim her first victory next year.

Kim, a 'Super Rookie', was selected for the junior reserve team in her sixth year of elementary school and won 20 times as an amateur. She turned professional in October last year, passing the regular member selection and topping the seed tournament. This year, she demonstrated remarkable consistency in the KLPGA Tour, participating in 29 competitions, securing three runner-up positions, and entering the 'Top 10' twelve times. She ranked first in Rookie Points (2969 points), third in Grand Prize Points (516 points), and sixth in Earnings (₩745.75 million), but the lack of a victory trophy was the only imperfection.

Despite her successes, Kim fell short at crucial moments, finishing second in the 37th Korea Women's Open in June, the Daeyuwinia·MBN Women's Open in July, and the KB Financial Star Championship in September. Her contemporaries, Bang Shinsil and Hwang Yumin, won two and one tournament respectively. Kim admitted to envying her friends' victories and acknowledged a need to improve her short game and putting skills.

Kim self-assessed her KLPGA debut season with a score of 85 out of 100, citing the absence of a win and overall shortcomings. "Had I seized the opportunities that came my way, I could have won," she reflected. Known for her long drives and precision, she averaged a drive shot distance of 248.55 yards (ranked 11th) and a green hit rate of 72.47% (14th). Her favorite club is the iron, and she is confident in her iron shots.

Looking forward to next year, Kim's primary goal is to win. She is inspired by Lee Yewon, who, after being Rookie of the Year last season without a win, secured three victories this year, including a major, leading in earnings (₩1.42482 billion), Grand Prize Points (651 points), and average score (70.71). Kim aims to emulate her success.

Kim admires PGA Tour star Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) and LPGA Tour's six-time winner Kim Hyo-joo. She seeks to emulate their play, appreciating McIlroy's style and swing, and Kim Hyo-joo's unique golf style and composure under pressure.

Despite the end of the season, Kim is dedicated to training for the upcoming Simone Asia Pacific Cup in Jakarta, Indonesia. She trains in Yongin during the week and in Chuncheon on weekends. After the tournament, she plans a family trip to Japan.

In mid-January, Kim will head to Palm Springs, California, for training, returning at the end of February. She intends to focus on improving her short game and putting, aiming for multiple victories rather than just one. "I hope to win multiple titles during my golfing career. Consistent performance this year makes me hopeful for becoming a multiple winner next year, which could also bring me closer to the Grand Prize and Earnings titles," she said with a smile.

For further information, please contact Nowoo Rae at golfman@asiae.co.kr.