Hong Jung-min to Defend First Major Title in Career
Last year, Hong Jung-min won her first stroke-play title and her first major championship in this tournament, and she is now aiming to defend her title. The BC Card·Hankyung 48th KLPGA Championship, the second major tournament of the Korea Ladies Professional Golf (KLPGA) Tour, will be held on August 20 at the Pocheon Hills Country Club in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province. This tournament, which is the 20th event of the season, features 123 players competing for a total prize money of 1,500,000,000 won over four days.
First major stage experience: Memories from Pocheon Hills
At the “KLPGA Championship,” the tournament with the longest history in the KLPGA Tour, Hong Jung-min finds special significance. The fact that she achieved her first major victory in the tournament with the longest history in the KLPGA Tour remains a source of great pride. As she prepares to defend her title on this important stage, she stated her intention to focus on improving her condition and sharpening her skills, rather than feeling pressured.
This tournament, which began in 1978 with the establishment of the KLPGA, has a rich history. It has been graced by appearances from legendary figures such as the first champion, the late Han Myung-hyun, as well as Kang Choon-ja, the late Ku Ok-hee, Go Woo-soon, Kim Soon-mi, Kim Mi-hyun, Bae Gyeong-eun, Lee Ji-young, Choi Na-yeon, and Shin Ji-ae.
Course analysis and preparation for Pocheon Hills
Hong Jeong-min is intimately familiar with every detail of the Pocheon Hills Country Club, having won the championship last year. His course strategy involves hitting the tee shot boldly to the right, landing it at the edge of the fairway, to avoid the difficult slopes and make the second shot easier. Regarding the 14th hole, where she recorded two bogeys over the four rounds last year, she specifically stated, “Regardless of the pin position, I will aim for it with a comfortable fade shot, taking into account the right-side bunker.”
Maintaining focus in the intense heat is a crucial condition for defending the title, and Hong Jung-min advised that, in summer, golfers should shorten their pre-tee putting practice to 10 minutes or less.
Competition with major competitors
Kim Min-sol and Seo Gyo-rim, both born in 2006, have established themselves as the “top two” in this year’s KLPGA Tour, each with 3 wins. This has created a competitive dynamic as they both aim to be the first to reach 4 wins. Park Min-ji, who is tied for the KLPGA Tour’s all-time record with 20 career wins, can set a new record for most wins if she wins this tournament, and she can also achieve the feat of “winning all 4 major tournaments.” She previously won the Korean Women’s Open (2021), the KB Financial Star Championship (2022), and the HiteJinro Championship (2022).
To enhance the challenge for the major tournament, Pocheon Hills Country Club increased the total distance by more than 200 yards compared to last year’s BC Card·Hankyung Ladies Cup, and also made changes to the fairway width and rough, which are expected to be factors in the competition.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Q. Did Hong Jung-min win the KLPGA Championship last year?
- A. Yes, Hong Jung-min won her first major championship at the 47th KLPGA Championship in 2025, and this year she is the defending champion and is aiming to defend her title.
- Q. What is the total prize money for the KLPGA Championship?
- The total prize money for the 48th BC Card·Hankyung KLPGA Championship in the 2026 season is 1,500,000,000 won.
- Q. How long has the KLPGA Championship been held?
- The KLPGA Championship began in 1978 with the establishment of the KLPGA and is the tournament with the longest history in the KLPGA Tour.
- Q. How many major championships has Hong Jeong-min won?
- A. Hong Jeong-min’s victory at the 47th KLPGA Championship in 2025 marked her first major championship win in her career.
- Q. Which players are worth watching at this year’s KLPGA Championship?
- The main competitors include defending champion Hong Jeong-min, Kim Min-sol and Seo Gyo-rim, who have each won 3 matches this season, and Park Min-ji, who has 3 major tournament wins in her career.
- Q. When will the tournament be held?
- The BC Card · Hankyung 48th KLPGA Championship will be held from August 20th to 23rd, 2026, over four days at the Pocheon Hills Country Club in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province.
