Seoul: After earning her LPGA Tour card with a strong showing at the qualifying tournament in December, South Korean golfer Lee Dong-eun said Friday she only has a modest goal for herself as a rookie. "I just want to finish the season in one piece," Lee told reporters at a corporate event in Seoul. "Obviously, I'd love to win the Rookie of the Year award or win a tournament. But in golf, just when you get too greedy and try to do too much, things can go sideways. I have to put that aside and keep an eye on great players on the tour so that I can keep getting better."
According to Yonhap News Agency, Lee expressed her desire to give her best at every tournament and maintain her tour card for next year. She believes that achieving these goals will naturally lead to success, such as a tournament win or the Rookie of the Year honor. Lee tied for seventh place at the LPGA Q-Series, where the top 25 players and ties secured their LPGA membership for 2026.
The 21-year-old golfer spent the past three seasons on the Korea LPGA (KLPGA) Tour, claiming her first KLPGA title at a major tournament in June 2025, the Korea Women's Open Golf Championship. Known for her driving distance, Lee led the tour with an average of 261.1 yards off the tee. However, she acknowledges that she needs a well-rounded game to compete on the U.S. circuit, as her driving distance would have only ranked her 72nd on the LPGA Tour last year.
"There are so many long hitters on the LPGA Tour," Lee remarked. "Rather than relying on my distance, I have to also focus on my course management skills, short game, and putting." She expressed excitement about the opportunity to challenge herself on the LPGA Tour and emphasized the importance of learning from the best players in the world.
Lee is particularly looking forward to playing with American star Nelly Korda, a former world No. 1 with 15 career LPGA wins, including two majors and the 2020 Olympic gold medal. Additionally, Lee will have a familiar face on the tour, as her rival from the KLPGA Tour, Hwang You-min, will also make her LPGA debut this year after securing her tour card by winning the Lotte Championship as a nonmember in October.
Furthermore, Lee and Hwang will be joined by another former KLPGA star and now LPGA sophomore, Yoon Ina. Yoon had a stellar career in South Korea, sweeping up the Player of the Year award, money title, and scoring title in 2024. Although she was considered a strong candidate for the LPGA Rookie of the Year award in 2025, she only recorded one top-10 finish in 26 starts while missing eight cuts.
Reflecting on her experience, Yoon shared that she learned valuable lessons by observing great players and felt personal growth as a golfer. For the upcoming season, Yoon aims to trust herself more and return to her aggressive style of golf, focusing on enjoying the game without the pressure of immediate results.