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LPGA's Hwang You-min heads to China after a top-20 finish at HSBC Women's World Championship

Published: 02 Mar. 2026, 13:07 Updated: 02 Mar. 2026, 17:26

Hwang You-min poses for a photo after an interview with the JoongAng Ilbo at Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore. Hwang tied for 18th at the 5-under par at the 2026 HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore that ran from Feb. 26 to March 1. [KO BONG-JUN]

SINGAPORE — As the LPGA's Asian swing moved on from Sentosa Golf Club, Hwang You-min packed for China with a top-20 finish and another milestone that made her status on tour feel real.

“I can’t believe I’m flying on a chartered plane. I’ve only ever seen one on TV. This makes me feel like someone special,” she said.

For Hwang, the charter flight to Hainan, China, for this week’s Blue Bay LPGA was more than a logistical detail — it confirmed that she is now a full member of the tour. The LPGA arranged the plane because there is no direct commercial route between Singapore and Hainan.

Hwang earned this recognition the hard way.

She closed the HSBC Women’s World Championship, tied for 18th at 5-under par. She shot even par with two birdies and two bogeys on the Tanjong Course on Sunday. Among Korean players, only Ryu Hae-ran finished higher at 10-under, good for sixth.

Australian Hannah Green won the tournament at 14-under, shooting 3-under in the final round with an eagle, four birdies and three bogeys to claim the $450,000 first prize.

Hwang You-min tees off during the HSBC Women's World Championship at the Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore on Feb. 26. [AP/YONHAP]

Hwang’s week demanded patience. Her right Achilles tendon had flared up before the tournament, swelling enough to limit how much force she could generate in her swing. The injury resurfaces once or twice a year, she says, but this episode proved particularly painful.

“It’s almost like a chronic issue for me. But this was the worst that it’s hurt,” she said. “I couldn’t really put power into my shots, so they were shaky at first. The heat made it worse. I’m just glad I got through four days of competition.”

That she did so while remaining competitive speaks to why many in Korean golf view her as a long-term asset.

Hwang joined the KLPGA Tour in 2023 and quickly built a reputation for her length off the tee and aggressive style. Last October, she captured the Lotte Championship in Hawaii, securing a spot in the LPGA for the 2026 season.

The transition has looked steady. She tied for fifth at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions to open the year, then added another top-20 in Singapore.

“I still feel like I have a lot to improve,” Hwang said with a slight smile. “In Korea, I relied on distance, but out here, there are so many players who hit it farther than I do.”

That realization has shifted her focus.

“I’m learning how important the short game is,” she said. “In the United States, every course has different grass, so adapting to those conditions is key.”

Hwang You-min tees off on the 18th hole during the third round of the Tournament of Champions LPGA golf tournament in Orlando, Florida, on Feb. 1. [AP/YONHAP]

Life off the course has also changed. Hwang said she used to stay mostly inside her hotel room during tournaments. More time overseas changed that.

“I didn’t really go out much before,” she said. “But since playing more events abroad, I’ve been exploring popular restaurants and sights around where I’m staying. It relieves stress and helps me reset.”

After Blue Bay, Hwang plans to head directly to the United States for a stretch of five consecutive tournaments. The schedule will test her endurance and offer more chances for her to prove that her early results are sustainable.

“I want to be a player who produces steady results through the end of the season,” she said.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY KO BONG-JUN [[email protected]]