So Yeon Ryu is one of Korea’s finest golfers of the 21st Century, racking up 21 worldwide wins including a pair of major championships.
Born in the Korean capital of Seoul in 1990, Ryu would turn professional in the game of golf while still a teenager. She would also claim her first professional victory during her teenage years, before going on to dominate the LPGA Tour of Korea. She won five times on the tour in 2009, and it would not belong before she shone on the world stage.
The Korean secured her first major title at the 2011 US Women’s Open, thanks to a birdie on the final hole in regulation, before then downing compatriot Hee Kyung Seo in a three-hole aggregate playoff. Six years later, and after plenty of success on the LPGA Tour, Ryu then won the ANA Inspiration (now Chevron Championship). Again, it was another playoff win, this time against Lexi Thompson.
Those two majors are part of six victories on the LPGA Tour, and 21 worldwide wins. She also has wins on the LPGA Tour of Japan and the Ladies European Tour – the latter seeing her secure the double of Individual and Team titles at the World Ladies Championship in 2015.
So Yeon Ryu | Player Profile
Personal Information
Name: So Yeon Ryu
Born: June 29, 1990
Nationality: Republic of Korea
Residence: Seoul, Republic of Korea
Career
College: Yonsei University
Turned Pro: 2007
Professional Wins: 21
Highest World Ranking: 1 – June 26, 2017
Best Results In Majors
Best Finishes:
– Chevron Championship – WON (2017)
– Women’s PGA Championship – T2 (2018)
– US Women’s Open – WON (2011)
– Amundi Evian Championship – T2 (2016)
– AIG Women’s Open – 3rd/T3 (2015, 2018)
Professional Wins – 21
2008 (2) – Event #3 at Wigwam Red, Sports Seoul-KYJ Golf Open
2009 (5) – Doosan Match Play Championship, Woori Investment & Securities Ladies Championship, MBC Tour S-Oil Champions Invitational, SBS Charity Women’s Open, Orient China Ladies Open
2011 (2) – SBS Tour Lotte Cantata Ladies Open, US Women’s Open
2012 (2) – Jamie Farr Toledo Classic, Hanwha Finance Classic
2014 (2) – Mission Hills World Ladies Team Championship, Canadian Pacific Women’s Open
2015 (3) – World Ladies Championship, World Ladies Team Championship, High1 Resort Ladies Open
2017 (2) – ANA Inspiration, Walmart NW Arkansas Championship
2018 (2) – Meijer LPGA Classic, Japan Women’s Open Golf Championship
2020 (1) – Kia Motors Korea Women’s Open Championship
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Achievements and Awards
LPGA Rookie of the Year – 2012
LPGA Player of the Year – 2017
Rolex Annika Major Award – 2017
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about So Yeon Ryu
When and where was So Yeon Ryu born?
So Yeon Ryu in the Korean capital city of Seoul in June 1990. She began playing the game at the age of 8.
When did So Yeon Ryu turn professional?
So Yeon Ryu turned professional in 2007, opting to take classes at Yonsei University – where she did not play golf – while being a full-time professional on the LPGA Tour and LPGA Tour of Korea.
How many major titles has So Yeon Ryu won?
So Yeon Ryu is a two-time major champion. The first of those came at the US Women’s Open in 2011. She then doubled her haul with a victory at the ANA Inspirational six years later. Those are part of a career that saw 21 worldwide wins.
Did you Know?
Partnership with Park
So Yeon Ryu and Inbee Park teamed up to form a brilliant pairing in the mid-2010s. The pair won the World Ladies Championship Team event in both 2014 and 2015, with Park winning the Individual title in 2014, while Ryu won it in 2015.
Major Form
Along with her two major championship victories, at the US Women’s Open and the ANA Inspiration, Ryu also finished in the top three on eight more occasions, and she had six top fives at the US Women’s Open alone.
Golf Over Music
Prior to going pro in the golfing world, Ryu had thoughts about becoming a concert violinist, with the violin being one of her passions outside of sport.
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