AG Silver Silver Cooperation Lim Ji-yu and Yoo Hyun-jo “New Award, We will compete in good faith.”
Lim Ji-yu and Yoo Hyun-jo, who teamed up with the goal of winning the silver medal in the women’s team golf at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, heralded a full-fledged competition for the Rookie of the Year.
Lim Ji-yu and Yoo Hyun-jo made a good start by shooting 6-under 66 and 4-under 68 in the first round of the 2024 Korean Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour Mediheel/Korea Daily Championship (total prize money of 1 billion won) at Club 72 Sky Course in Incheon on the 11th, respectively.
In particular, it was a score that alleviated Lim’s regret that she failed to make the cut at the Doosan E&C Weave Championship (a total of three-over-par 147 strokes in the first and second rounds), the opening match of this season in Korea. “I was confident because I was in good condition with my shot before the opening, but the putter that I matched the previous week did not fit well, resulting in a regrettable result,” Lim said. “For this reason, I changed my putter and practiced putting a lot during the week. Thanks to this, the game went well that day,” he said after the first round.
Yoo Hyun-jo, who tied for 31st (3-under 285) in the opening match in Korea, also received a good report card in the first round of the tournament. “I was worried because my shots were not good at the beginning, but I found my shots after recording consecutive birdies in the last three holes (sixth, seventh, and eighth holes) in the first half. However, I had a lot of birdie opportunities in the second half, but unfortunately, I failed to catch them,” he said of the first round.
They both agree that participating in the Asian Games provided a great foundation for their growth as golfers. “It was an honor just to participate in the competition. It wasn’t a gold medal, but I learned a lot from watching my team win a medal,” Lim said. “It was a good experience to participate in a big competition with tremendous tension. It was an opportunity to significantly reduce scores on the professional stage as well.”
Lim Ji-yu and Yoo Hyun-jo, who were born in 2005, are also leading contenders for the Rookie of the Year award this season. “All the other contenders are strong, and I want to have fun during the season rather than focus on the competition,” Lim said. “I have more desire to win than the Rookie of the Year,” Lim said. “I don’t think I have to win the Rookie of the Year award. I hope they both play hard throughout the season and humbly accept the result.”
However, the two subtly revealed their true feelings at the end of the interview. Yoo said with a smile, “If I win, I think the Rookie of the Year award will come naturally.” Lim Ji-do also left a meaningful comment, saying, “If you compete in good faith, you will get good results.”