The Korean LPGA hits the restart button this week – with a major championship. The KLPGA Championship is set to take place May 14-17 north of Seoul at Lakewood Country Club in Yangju. The event will be closed to spectators.
The field includes several top-ranked players, including Sung Hyun Park (No. 3), Sei Young Kim (No. 6) and Jeongeun Lee6 (No. 10).
Former LPGA player Ha Na Jang (No. 31) and Hye Jin Choi are among the other top Korean stars. Both are past champions of the event.
This will be the first time Park, a former No. 1, has teed it up in 2020.
The KLPGA began its season in December of last year but has been on hold since due to the coronavirus.
Players and caddies will be asked complete a questionnaire before participating in the event, according to reports. In addition, players will have their temperatures checked before entering the course and be asked to social distance from their playing partners. They will also be asked to sanitize their clubs during the round. The entire field will not be tested for coronavirus due in large part to South Korea’s successful target-testing campaign that has slowed the spread.
Players and caddies will have a separate path to walk on the grounds and a separate temporary clubhouse. The main clubhouse will be open to members.
The field has been increased to 150 players (up six) and the purse has increased to $2.4 million (up about $520,000).
