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At the start of 2005, Jee Young Lee was just
another rookie on the KLPGA tour. But by June of that year,
she had already won the Korean Women's Open, one of the most
important events of the KLPGA season. After that, however,
she faded into the woodwork with a string of lackluster performances.
She did not seem to be much of a factor on tour.
But all that changed during the CJ 9 Bridges
Classic, the event co-sanctioned each year by the LPGA and
the KLPGA. Thanks to her win on the KLPGA tour, she was high
enough on their money list to play this event. By the end
of the first round, she was the surprise leader, ahead of
such stalwarts as Annika Sorenstam, Paula Creamer and defending
champion Grace Park. By the middle of the second round, she
had an unbelievable 8 shot lead. She eventually won the event
despite a hard charge from Jeong Jang and Mi Hyun Kim. By
doing so, she qualified to play for the next couple of years
on the LPGA tour: 2006 as a non-exempt player, 2007 as an
exempt one.
Much like Shi Hyun Ahn had done in 2003, Jee
Young became an overnight star in her native country; the
media quickly dubbed her the latest Korean Cinderella. She
worked hard during the off season to make sure she would be
a factor in her rookie year of 2006.
All in all, she had a very successful introduction
to the American tour in 2006. Although she didn't have the
enormous instant success of Seon Hwa Lee, she played well,
notching top twenties in two Majors and settling herself high
on the money list. After a 10th place at the US Women's Open,
she kicked it into another gear. She had a fifth place finish
at the Canadian Open, then took the first round lead at the
Safeway in August following a blistering 8 under par 64 that
included seven consecutive birdies. At the next tournament,
the Wendy's, she battled it out with Lorena Ochoa most of
the weekend for the title before fading at the end. A little
later, she returned to Korea and won a KLPGA event, the Shinsegae,
and she played well at her first Kyoraku Cup (the Korean-Japan
team event). Jee Young wound up 20th on the money list, a
great start to what looks like a very promising career.
2007 proved to be a great season for Jee Young,
despite the fact that she struggled with injuries much of
the year. In just the second tournament of the LPGA year,
the Fields Open, she battled for the crown all week, eventually
finishing second. She did well in all four Majors, carding
a 13th at the Nabisco, a 10th at the LPGA Championship, a
7th at the US Women's Open, and a tie for second, her best
ever Major finish, at the Ricoh British Women's Open.
Her best chance to win an event in 2007, however,
came at the Michelob Ultra Open in May. After shooting a career
best 63 in the third round, she was in great position to win
it all. In the end, she wound up in a playoff with Suzann
Pettersen, looking for her first LPGA win. The playoff went
for three holes, but on the third one, Jee Young sloppily
missed a one foot par putt, handing the tournament to Pettersen,
who would go on to win five times in 2007.
Jee Young had another good shot at a win at
the HSBC World Match Play in July. In her quarterfinal match
with Mi Hyun Kim, she was one down when they reached the par
5 18th, a hole Jee Young could easily reach with her length.
But she hit a terrible tee shot into the woods and would end
up losing the match.
After that, she struggled with injuries much
of the rest of the year. Still, she wound up with 10 top tens,
and finished for the first time in the top ten on the money
list. After that, she played in both the Kyoraku Cup and the
Lexus Cup, and was undefeated in five matches.
If she can stay healthy in 2008, she should
have a phenomenal season.
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