Who's who: Jin Young Ko

  • Torrey Pines - South course, host of the Farmers Insurance Open
  • Prince's GC, England
  • Torrey Pines - South course, host of the Farmers Insurance Open
  • Terras da Comporta, Dunas
  • Monte Rei G&CC
  • Marco Simone GC (Italy); host of the Ryder Cup 2023
  • Pebble Beach host of the US Open; US Women's Open; Pebble Beach Pro-Am
  • Marco Simone GC

Who's who: Jin Young Ko

  • Name:

    Jin Young Ko
  • Country:

    South Korea
  • Born:

    July 7, 1995 in Seoul, South Korea.
  • Original/Home Club:

  • Occupation:

    Professional golfer
  • Turned Pro:

    2013
  • Website:

    https://www.seoulsisters.com

Roll of Honour

MAJORS (2): ANA Inspiration (2019); Evian Championship (2019). Multiple wins on the LPGA of Korea Tour and LPGA Tour. LPGA Tour leading money winner (2019, '20, '21).

Did you know?

Turning professional in 2013 aged 18, over the period 2014-17 Ko became a ten-time winner on the LPGA of Korea Tour. She joined the LPGA Tour in 2018, notching up a win in the LPGA co-sanctioned Australian Women's Open, and then in 2019 on American soil in the Bank of Hope Founders Cup. Her first major championship win followed just two weeks later in the 2019 ANA Inspiration.

Rounding off a fabulous 2019 season, Ko won the LPGA Tour's money list and secured the Tour's Player of the Year Award.

Top tournaments won by Jin Young Ko

2023
America
Upper Montclair CC
275 (-13)
$450,000
Cognizant

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Ko, Jin Young

Venue

Upper Montclair CC

Score

275 (-13)

Prize money

$450,000

Title sponsor

Cognizant

Played as the Cognizant Founders Cup (May 11-14). Jin Young Ko (S Kor) beat defending champion Minjee Lee (Aus) with a par at the first playoff hole (par-4 18th), to record her third win in this event and 15th LPGA Tour win overall. [Upper Montclair CC, Clifton, New Jersey].

Category

Asia

Winner (holder)

Ko, Jin Young

Score

271 (-17)

Prize money

$270,000

Title sponsor

HSBC

Played as the HSBC Women's World Championship (Mar 2-5; LPGA Tour event). Second-placed Nelly Korda (USA) finished 2 shots behind defending champion Jin Young Ko (S Kor). [Tanjong course, Sentosa GC, Singapore].

Category

Asia

Winner (holder)

Ko, Jin Young

Score

271 (-17)

Prize money

$255,000

Title sponsor

HSBC

Played as the HSBC Women's World Championship (Mar 3-6; LPGA Tour event). Second-placed Minjee Lee (Aus) and In Gee Chun (S Kor) finished 2 shots behind Jin Young Ko (S Kor). [Tanjong course, Sentosa GC, Singapore].

2021
America
Mountain Ridge, NJ
266 (-18)
$450,000
Cognizant

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Ko, Jin Young

Venue

Mountain Ridge, NJ

Score

266 (-18)

Prize money

$450,000

Title sponsor

Cognizant

Played as the Cognizant Founders Cup (Oct 7-10). Second-placed Caroline Masson (Ger) finished 4 shots behind defending champion Jin Young Ko (S Kor), who recorded her tenth LPGA Tour win. [Mountain Ridge CC, West Caldwell, NJ].

2021
Awards
211 pts
n/a
Rolex

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Ko, Jin Young

Venue

Score

211 pts

Prize money

n/a

Title sponsor

Rolex

Jin Young Ko (S Kor) won the LPGA 2021 Rolex Player of the Year Award with 211 pts, based on a points system for top 10 finishes and performance in Majors. Nelly Korda (USA) was second with 197 pts; Patty Tavatanakit (Thai) was third with 126 pts.

2021
America
265 (-23)
$1,500,000
CME Group

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Ko, Jin Young

Score

265 (-23)

Prize money

$1,500,000

Title sponsor

CME Group

Played as the CME Group Tour Championship (Nov 18-21; LPGA Tr season-ending event). Second-placed Nasa Hataoka (Jpn) finished 1 shot behind defending champion Jin Young Ko (S Kor). Ko's win also gave her the season-long LPGA Tour money title for the third straight year. [Gold course, Tiburón GC, Naples, FL].

2021
America
205 (-19)
$210,000
Cambia Health

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Ko, Jin Young

Score

205 (-19)

Prize money

$210,000

Title sponsor

Cambia Health

Played as the Cambia Portland Classic (Sept 16-19). Second-placed Su-hyun Oh (Aus) and Jeongeun Lee (S Kor) finished 4 shots behind Jin Young Ko (S Kor), who recorded her second LPGA Tour win of 2021. [Columbia Edgewater CC, Portland, Oregon].

2021
Awards
$3,502,161
see Score
LPGA Tr

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Ko, Jin Young

Venue

Score

$3,502,161

Prize money

see Score

Title sponsor

LPGA Tr

Jin Young Ko (S Kor) won the LPGA Tour Money List for the third straight year, with 2021 season earnings of $3,502,161 on the Tour. Nelly Korda (USA) was second with $2,382,198; Nasa Hataoka (Jpn) was third with $1,901,081.

2021
America
268 (-16)
$225,000
Volntrs of America

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Ko, Jin Young

Score

268 (-16)

Prize money

$225,000

Title sponsor

Volntrs of America

Played as the Volunteers of America Classic (July 1-4). Second-placed Matilda Castren (Fin) finished 1 shot behind Jin Young Ko (S Kor). [Old American GC, The Colony, nr Dallas, TX].

2021
Asia
LPGA Intl Busan
266 (-22)
$300,000
BMW

Category

Asia

Winner (holder)

Ko, Jin Young

Venue

LPGA Intl Busan

Score

266 (-22)

Prize money

$300,000

Title sponsor

BMW

Played as the BMW Ladies Championship (Oct 21-24; LPGA Tr/KLPGA Tr event). Jin Young Ko (S Kor) beat Hee Jeong Lim (S Kor) with a birdie at the first playoff hole, to record back-to-back LPGA Tour wins and her fourth win in her last seven starts. [LPGA Intl Busan, Busan, S Korea].

2020
Awards
$1,667,925
see Score
LPGA Tr

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Ko, Jin Young

Venue

Score

$1,667,925

Prize money

see Score

Title sponsor

LPGA Tr

Jin Young Ko (S Kor) won the LPGA Tour Money List for the second straight year, with 2020 season earnings of $1,667,925 on the Tour. Sei Young Kim (S Kor) was second with $1,416,993; Inbee Park (S Kor) was third with $1,377,799.

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Ko, Jin Young

Score

270 (-18)

Prize money

$1,100,000

Title sponsor

CME

Played as the CME Group Tour Championship (Dec 17-20; LPGA Tr season-ending event; postponed from Nov 19-22 due to world coronavirus pandemic). Second-placed Hannah Green (Aus) and Sei Young Kim (S Kor) finished 5 shots behind Jin Young Ko (S Kor). Ko's win also gave her the season-long LPGA Tour money title, after having played in only four events on the Tour in 2020. [Gold course, Tiburón GC, Naples, FL].

2019
America
266 (-22)
$225,000
Bank of Hope

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Ko, Jin Young

Score

266 (-22)

Prize money

$225,000

Title sponsor

Bank of Hope

Played as the Bank of Hope Founders Cup (March 21-24). Second-placed Carlota Ciganda (Esp), Yu Liu (China), Jessica Korda (USA) and her younger sister Nelly Korda (USA) finished 1 shot behind Jin Young Ko (S Kor). [Wildfire GC, Phoenix, AZ; composite of back-nines of Palmer & Faldo courses].

2019
America
Magna GC
262 (-26)
$337,500
Canadian Pacific

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Ko, Jin Young

Venue

Magna GC

Score

262 (-26)

Prize money

$337,500

Title sponsor

Canadian Pacific

Played as the CP Women's Open (Aug 22-25). Second-placed Nicole Broch Larsen (Den) finished 5 shots behind Jin Young Ko (S Kor). [Magna GC, Aurora, Ontario].

2019
Majors
269 (-15)
$615,000
Evian

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Ko, Jin Young

Score

269 (-15)

Prize money

$615,000

Title sponsor

Evian

The Evian Championship (26th) (July 25-28). Second-placed Hyu-joo Kim (S Kor), Shanshan Feng (China) and Jennifer Kupcho (USA) finished 2 shots behind Ko (S Kor), who recorded her second major championship win, both coming in 2019. [Evian Resort GC, Evian-les-Bains, France].

2019
Awards
241 pts
n/a
Rolex

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Ko, Jin Young

Venue

Score

241 pts

Prize money

n/a

Title sponsor

Rolex

Jin Young Ko (S Kor) won the LPGA Rolex Player of the Year Award with 241 pts, based on a points system for top 10 finishes and performance in Majors. Nelly Korda (USA) was second with 126 pts; Jeongeun Lee (S Kor; playing as Jeongeun Lee6) was third with 123 pts.

2019
Awards
4148 pts
CME Group

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Ko, Jin Young

Venue

Score

4148 pts

Prize money

Title sponsor

CME Group

Jin Young Ko (S Kor; 4,148 pts) won the LPGA Tour's season-long points chase, the Race to the CME Globe. Brooke Henderson (Can) was second with 2,907 pts; Minjee Lee (Aus) was third with 2,870 pts. The 2019 "Race", based on points earned for "above the cut line" finishes, determined the 60 competitors for the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship (which was won by Sei Young Kim).

2019
Awards
69.052
n/a
LPGA Tr

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Ko, Jin Young

Venue

Score

69.052

Prize money

n/a

Title sponsor

LPGA Tr

Ko (S Kor) won the Vare Trophy, recording the season's lowest scoring average (69.052) on the LPGA Tour. Hyo Joo Kim (S Kor) was second with 69.408; Brooke M. henderson (Can) was third with 69.551.

2019
Awards
$2,773,894
see Score
LPGA Tr

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Ko, Jin Young

Venue

Score

$2,773,894

Prize money

see Score

Title sponsor

LPGA Tr

Ko (S Kor) won the LPGA Tour 2019 Money List, with season earnings of $2,773,894 on the Tour. Sei Young Kim (S Kor) was second with $2,753,099; Jeongeun Lee (S Kor; playing as Jeongeun Lee6) was third with $2,052,103.

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Ko, Jin Young

Score

278 (-10)

Prize money

$450,000

Title sponsor

ANA

Played as the ANA Inspiration (48th) (April 4-7). Second-placed Mi Hyang Lee (S Kor) finished 3 shots behind first-time major championship winner Jin Young Ko (S Kor), who recorded her second win in three weeks. [Dinah Shore Tournament course, Mission Hills CC, Rancho Mirage, CA].

2018
Awards
1,263 pts
$1,159,005
Rolex

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Ko, Jin Young

Venue

Score

1,263 pts

Prize money

$1,159,005

Title sponsor

Rolex

Ko (S Kor) won the LPGA Tour 2018 Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year Award as the leading first-season player. Using a season-long points system (based on finishes in Tour events), Park accumulated 1,263 pts (earning $1,159,005 in the process). Georgia Hall (Eng) was second with 759 pts ($837,678); Yu Liu (China) was third with 608 pts ($464,347).

2018
Aus/NZ
274 (-14)
US$195,000
ISPS Handa

Category

Aus/NZ

Winner (holder)

Ko, Jin Young

Score

274 (-14)

Prize money

US$195,000

Title sponsor

ISPS Handa

Played as the ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open (Feb 15-18; ALPG/LPGA Trs event). Second-placed Hei-jin Choi (S Kor) finished 3 shots behind Ko (S Kor), who became only the second ever player to win on her debut as a member of the LPGA Tour. Beverley Hanson first accomplished this feat in 1951. [Kooyonga GC, Lockleys, Adelaide, SA].

2017
Asia
Sky 72 GC
269 (-19)
US$300,000
HanaBank

Category

Asia

Winner (holder)

Ko, Jin Young

Venue

Sky 72 GC

Score

269 (-19)

Prize money

US$300,000

Title sponsor

HanaBank

Played as the LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championship (Oct 12-15; KLPGA/LPGA Tours event). Second-placed Park Sung-hyun (S Kor) finished 2 shots behind 22-year-old Jin Young Ko (S Kor; not an LPGA Tour member), who recorded her first LPGA Tour win. [Ocean course, Sky 72 GC, Incheon, S Korea].

Find a course

Or

Tournaments

Ryder Cup: Rome plays host to the first ever Ryder Cup to be staged in Italy, with the USA defending golf’s greatest team trophy at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club (Sept 29-Oct 1).

Solheim Cup: also in September, also in southern Europe, the 18th Solheim Cup will be contested at Finca Cortesin on the Costa del Sol, with Europe defending after their surprise win in Toledo, Inverness Club (Ohio) in 2021 (Sept 22-24). 

Who's Who

Céline Boutier: with many successes as both an amateur and professional golfer, Boutier added a major championship title to her impressive résumé at this year’s Evian Championship.

Alex Cejka: buffeted by rain and high winds, especially on the high-scoring final day, Čejka prevailed over Pádraig Harrington in a playoff at Royal Porthcawl, to scoop the Senior Open Championship title.

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club: With a clubhouse that might befit a Roman Emperor, and a golf course to match, you can be sure of a memorable outing at Rome's most talked about golf facility.

Jim Fazio's original layout was much changed to create a modern Ryder Cup course ... now one of the Eternal City's (and Italy's) most revered.

Prince's Golf Club, Kent (UK)

Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.

Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available

Popular videos

You can subscribe to the Where2Golf channel on YT if you like to see more video content. You'll find a "Subscribe" button on any of our YouTube videos. Or if you want a quick and direct access subscribe here. Once done, any new published videos will show up in your Subscriptions feed.

Hamburger GC - Falkenstein, Germany

WINSTONgolf - Links course

Littlestone Golf Club (Kent, UK)