‘Reserve’ Lee Soo-min is having a busy off-season. He left for Thailand last December and is sweating. He left early to qualify for the Asian Tour Qualifying School in Thailand, but was invited to the final qualifying stage as a recommended player. The tournament will be held as a 90-hole stroke play for five days from the 18th to the 22nd. If you finish in the top 35, you can get a seed for this year’s Asian Tour.
In an interview with Asia Economic Daily on the 16th, Lee Su-min expressed his determination, “I will do my best to play in the Asian Tour.”
Lee Su-min is a player who has shown outstanding skills since his national team days. In 2013, as an amateur, he won the Korea Professional Golf (KPGA) Korean Tour Gunsan CC Open and caused a stir. Immediately after turning pro in 2015, he reached the top again at the Gunsan CC Open and set a milestone of ‘simultaneous championship of amateur + professional in a single competition’. He also won the DP World Tour Shenzhen International, which he participated in as a recommended player in 2016, and advanced to Europe. Lee Soo-min did not achieve much on the European stage, but in October 2019, at the Choi Kyung-ju Invitational, he collected the winning trophy after 4 years and made a splendid return. After winning his fourth career win at the 2020 KPGA Open with Solago CC, he enlisted in the military in April 2021, saying, “I want to put down golf for a while and find peace of mind.”
He served as a social worker in charge of the reserve forces in Daegwallyeong-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do. Even while serving in the military, 메이저놀이터 Lee Su-min hung on to practice after work. On holidays, he perfected his skills by playing rounds at a nearby golf course. Lee Soo-min said, “I did constant physical training during my military service,” and “I focused on improving my short game and putting sense.” He then expressed strong confidence, saying, “I gained 7kg compared to before enlisting, and now I am 79kg.”
Lee Soo-min gained strength after seeing the performance of players who returned to the field after completing military service. Hwang Jung-gon (Asia de CC Busan Open) and Lee Hyung-jun (Hyundai Marine & Marine Insurance Choi Kyung-ju Invitational), who returned from military service last year, collected championship trophies. Lee Soo-min said, “I saw the reserve players perform well,” and said, “I thought the hyungs did really well. I will prepare thoroughly.”
Sumin Lee signed a contract with All That Sports in December of last year. It is a sports marketing company that includes figure skaters Kim Yu-na and Shin Jia, short track skater Choi Min-jeong, swimmer Hwang Seon-woo and Kim Seo-young, gymnast Yeo-jeong Yeo, rock climbing Kim Ja-in and Seo Chae-hyun, and skeleton skater Yoon Seong-bin. Starting with Im Seong-jae, who is active on the PGA Tour, he will have a meal with Kim Seong-hyun, Bae Sang-moon, Hwang Joong-gon, Lee Won-joon, Shin Sang-hoon, Choi Jae-hoon, and Yang Hee-young. Lee Soo-min said, “There are many great players in All That Sports, and I am proud to be a member of them. I will work hard to become a player comparable to other players.”
Lee Soo-min is the pillar that will lead the Korean tour this year. He is 180 cm tall and weighs 75 kg, and his exciting driver shots with an average of 300 yards are outstanding. He has enough star surnames to win the Rookie Award in 2015 and the Genesis Prize Money King in 2019. The roaring ceremony after a great shot is also excellent. In 2020, after three and a half years of dating Choi Ji-yeon, who is 3 years older, they registered their marriage. Lee Soo-min said, “I feel a sense of responsibility as the head of a household as I am married and have a daughter.” Lee Soo-min said, “I plan to focus on the Korean tour this year,” and emphasized, “I will put down the burden of the return season and work hard to win.” He continued, “If I get a chance, I will try to advance to the PGA Tour,” he said calmly.