Top contenders for the KLPGA Tour's Iceberg Golf-Seoul Newspaper Open have identified Yoo Hyun-jo and Kim Min-sol as the players to watch.
The tournament will take place from October 16 to 18 at the H1 Club in Icheon, featuring a par-72 course measuring 6,953 yards. The total prize pool is set at 1.5 billion won, with the winner receiving 270 million won.
On October 15, an official press conference was held at the H1 Club, attended by prominent players including Ko Jin-young, Yoo Hae-ran, Yoon In-na, and Park Sung-hyun, along with Yoo Hyun-jo, Kim Min-sol, and Seo Kyo-rim, who are having strong seasons on the KLPGA Tour.
When asked about the players they were most wary of, four participants mentioned Yoo Hyun-jo and Kim Min-sol, with each receiving two votes.
Seo Kyo-rim, who named Yoo Hyun-jo, said, "All the players here are formidable competitors, and with so many world-class players, it's hard to single one out. But if I had to choose, I would pick Hyun-jo, as she had a great round today."
Yoo Hyun-jo is coming off a victory at the 2026 HJ Construction-Dongbu Construction Championship, marking her second win of the season. She aims for consecutive victories in this tournament.
Yoo Hae-ran, who took a break last week to watch KLPGA Tour broadcasts, also selected Yoo Hyun-jo, stating, "I haven't played with her yet, but she has been impressive and plays very well."
Kim Min-sol's strength lies in her long drives. Yoon In-na noted, "On such a long course, Kim Min-sol's distance will be a significant advantage."
Park Sung-hyun also voted for Kim Min-sol, praising her, saying, "I think she plays exceptionally well. There are many aspects of her game that I admire."
With three wins this season, Kim Min-sol currently leads the prize money standings with 1.541 billion won. If she finishes in solo fifth place or better in this tournament, she will become the first player in KLPGA history to surpass 1.6 billion won in a single season.
Kim Min-sol did not name a specific competitor, stating, "With only three tournaments left in the season, every stroke becomes more valuable. I will do my best to perform well."
Ko Jin-young echoed a similar sentiment. After an unintended break due to a hand injury this season, she referred to this year as her "sabbatical." She emphasized, "All players are contenders for victory, but I believe I am my biggest competitor on the course. Controlling myself is the most important thing, and that is my focus."
Yoo Hyun-jo chose to highlight her role models instead of competitors. She said, "Rather than naming a player to be wary of, I have always looked up to Jin-young since I was young. I want to learn from her. I also feel that Hae-ran has great shot-making skills, and I see them as inspirations rather than rivals."
As the tournament approaches, players shared their thoughts.
Ko Jin-young, returning to the KLPGA Tour for the first time since the 2023 Jeju Samdasoo Masters, remarked, "I honestly don't remember when my last Korean tournament was. It's refreshing to see many new faces, and I'm looking forward to this week."
Yoo Hae-ran, who recently won the Hite Jinro Championship, expressed her excitement about playing in front of domestic fans again. She said, "It has been a while since I played in front of Korean fans, and I want to enjoy the experience with them. Their support helped me achieve a great result last time, and I hope to have fun again this week without too much stress."
Yoon In-na will compete in front of domestic fans for two consecutive weeks, including the upcoming LPGA Tour BMW Ladies Championship. She stated, "It feels like it's been a year since I greeted my domestic fans. I want to thank those who have come to see me after such a long time, and I hope to perform well."
Park Sung-hyun, participating in her fifth KLPGA Tour event this season, noted, "It's not been too long since I last played. I've been competing for three years now, and my game feels sharp. I always approach each tournament with the desire to win and will give my best until the final day."
Seo Kyo-rim, leading the season with four wins, is also at the top of the points standings with 563 points and second in prize money with 1.413 billion won. She said, "With the season winding down, I will give my all in this major tournament. The prize money is substantial, which makes me eager, but I believe that focusing on my own game will yield better results."
Kim Min-sol added, "With only three tournaments left, every stroke becomes more precious. I will do my best to perform well."
Yoo Hyun-jo concluded, "I understand this tournament has the largest prize pool outside of the majors. I want to perform well, especially since there are only a few tournaments left, and I will do my best to show my best form."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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