Korean women golfers are steadily reclaiming their status as a dominant force in the sport, achieving six victories on the 2026 LPGA Tour and positioning themselves to regain the title of most wins by a country for the first time in six years.
On July 26, Shin Ji-eun secured a wire-to-wire victory at the ISPS Handa Scottish Open held at Dundonald Links in North Ayrshire, Scotland, finishing with a total score of 9-under 279. This marks her second career win, coming nearly 10 years and two months after her first victory at the Texas Shootout in May 2016.
With this win, Korean players have now combined for six victories this season. Lee Mi-hyang opened the season with a win at the Blue Bay LPGA in March, her first in over eight years. Kim Hyo-joo followed with consecutive wins at the Founders Cup and the Ford Championship. Yoo Hae-ran then achieved back-to-back major victories at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in June and the Amundi Evian Championship in July. Shin Ji-eun's recent win completed a remarkable streak of three consecutive victories for Korean golfers.
As the second half of the season approaches, Korea has matched last year's total of six wins, placing them in a tie for first in the country standings. The United States has also recorded six wins, with world No. 1 Nelly Korda contributing four victories, while Lauren Coughlin and the team of Gina Kim and Yana Wilson each have one win.
Japan, which led with seven wins last year, has only one victory this season from Miyu Yamashita.
Korean women’s golf was once a dominant force on the LPGA Tour, achieving 15 wins in 2015, 2017, and 2019. However, after narrowly leading the U.S. with seven wins in 2020, the number of victories declined to six in 2021, four in 2022, and five in 2023, with only three wins in 2024, trailing the U.S. significantly.
This year, the momentum has shifted positively, with hopes for double-digit wins for the first time since 2019 and a return to the top of the country standings for the first time in six years. The resurgence is largely attributed to the strong performances of veteran players in their 30s, who have contributed four of the six wins. Kim Hyo-joo, 31, has two wins, while Lee Mi-hyang, 33, and Shin Ji-eun, 34, each have one win, showcasing their experience and stability in Korean golf.
Additionally, 25-year-old Yoo Hae-ran's success has created a perfect blend of youth and experience. Yoo has emerged as a top player on the LPGA Tour, winning two major tournaments this year. It is the first time since Inbee Park swept three major tournaments in 2013 that a Korean player has won back-to-back majors.
Looking ahead, the focus for the Korean golfers is on the AIG Women’s Open, which begins on July 30. If a Korean player wins this tournament, it would mark four consecutive victories on the tour and place them in sole possession of the lead for most wins by a country.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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