The Korean Professional Golf (KPGA) Tour’s Lexus Masters (KRW 1 billion in total prize money, KRW 200 million for the winner) is set for an exciting moving day. Star players with interesting stories are expected to play an attacking game to win the title.
Lee Tae-hee, 40, who has four career victories, led for the second straight day with five birdies in the second round of the tournament on Tuesday at A One CC (Par 72-7121 yards) in Yangsan, Gyeongnam. At 12-under-par 132, Lee is four strokes clear of second-place finishers Kim Han-byul and Kang Yun-seok, who are tied for second at 8-under-par. It will be her first title in four years since the 2020 GS Caltex Mae Kyung Open (August). In fact, Lee has been unable to train properly due to her back condition. She only practices the basics, such as her short game. “It’s unbelievable to be leading for two days,” Lee said, ”I didn’t expect to do so well. Golf is not easy to explain in words.” Lee talked about her preparation for the third round. “I want to play the kind of game that fulfills my game plan, goals and objectives, and I think my mindset of playing healthy and injury-free, 안전놀이터 rather than my performance, has paid off in this tournament.”
Wang is tied for fourth with Yang Ji-ho and Yeom Seo-hyun
Wang, who has three wins on the European DP World Tour (formerly the European Tour) and represented South Korea at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, is tied for fourth (7-under par) with Yang Ji-ho and Yeom Seo-hyun. Veteran Park Sang-hyun, who has 12 career victories, Heo In-ho, who has seven career victories, and Kim Woo-hyun, who has three career victories, are tied for eighth (6-under par).
For Wang, who is bouncing back from a slump, a win at this event would secure a full seed on the KPGA Tour and lay the foundation for a stable tour life.
“I want to win so badly, and if the weather is good on the weekend, I’ll play aggressively, but if it’s windy like it was in rounds one and two, I’ll defend my score,” said Wang. Money leader Kim Min-kyu, who has two wins this season, was tied for 11th (5-under par) with Lee Dae-woon, Cho Min-kyu, Lee Jung-hwan and Ham Jeong-woo.