Im Jinhee said, "Before debut, bitterness was medicine to me"
This is what she thinks about her debut on the LPGA Tour. She was cut at the Drive-On Championship, which ended at Bradenton Country Club in Florida on April 28. "I regret a lot but I learned a lot," she said in an interview with the Asian Economic Daily on Monday. "I think I need to prepare better."
Im Jin-hee joined the regular tour in 2018 after the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Jumping (Part 3) Tour and Dream (Part 2) Tour. She is a "quiet champion" with six KLPGA Tour wins. Since her debut, her performance has not been so good that she had no choice but to participate in the seed ranking competition every year until 2020. She is a "late golfer" who rose to the top with hard work. She scored 58 points out of 57 at the BC Card and the Hankyung Ladies Cup in June 2021, her first career win, and she swept four wins last year to become a multiple-win champion.
Becoming the strongest player in Korea, Im has set a new goal. My goal is to become the best in the LPGA Tour. She tied for 17th in the final round of the LPGA Tour Qualifying Series, which ended in December last year at Magnolia Grubbo Golf Club in Mobile, Alabama. This year, she qualified for the top 20. I don't know exactly when, but I have always wanted to play in the U.S. since I was young. While participating in domestic competitions, I thought about challenging the LPGA. I thought it would be very hard and challenging. It must be tough, but I want to overcome it and gain a sense of accomplishment
Im Jin-hee tasted bitterness in her first competition. She has been somewhat positive about what she thinks she is doing well. She has become a leader who renews her commitment. He analyzed, "I still have a lot of shortcomings" and, "I think I failed to adapt to my local environment this time." She has quickly adapted to her new tour and is studying English in her spare time. She also hired a new caddy based on the recommendations from the LPGA Tour. She said, "She is an experienced woman. She makes a great impression. I will be joining her in the Pirhills Seori Championship (March 21-24)."
Im Jin-hee is a practice bug. She is the type that focuses only on training and taking care of her body. Until 2021, she didn't have a cell phone at all. She is so different from her peers who can't take their eyes off their phones. She is also not interested in social networking services. Important contacts are made through my mother's cell phone. She focuses only on golf and received a skill development award at the KLPGA Tour Awards last year. When she has trouble putting, she lives on the green. He said, "I putts on the practice green for 45 minutes an hour before tee-off."
The LPGA Tour has begun its month-long "vacation period" after finishing the opener of the Hilton Grand Vacation Tournament of Champions and the Drive-On Championship last month. The Honda LPGA Thailand will resume on July 22. Im set this year's goal as the winner and the Rookie of the Year. That's why she doesn't let go of her golf club even during breaks. She is focusing on driving distance that was 2 percent short. She said, "I am trying to adapt to a different side of the country. If I strengthen my shortcomings, I think I will get good results."
She wants to participate in the Paris Olympics, which will be held at Le Golf Club (par 72) near Paris, France for four days from July 7. Of course, it is not easy. She has to enter the top 15 in the world by June 24. She is currently ranked 42nd in the world. If she wins in the first half, she will be able to participate in the Olympics, which she dreamed of. My motto is sincerity, the best, and humility. I always do my best to compete in the games. If I have the honor to participate in the Olympics, I will do my best then as well
She plans to take advantage of her poor performance in the first LPGA tour. She got strength from her friends who contacted me after she failed the preliminary round. "I failed to make the cut in the first competition, but everyone gave me a lot of support," she said. "As I received positive energy and heart-warming emotions, I will do my best to repay them." "I will not give up no matter what happens," she said with a smile. "I ask for your support."