Goyang: The four South Korean golfers set to tee off at an LPGA match-play event on home soil said Wednesday they will try to capitalize on their home advantage this week. Kim Hyo-joo, Ryu Hae-ran, Choi Hye-jin, and Ko Jin-young will represent the No. 3 seed South Korea at the fifth edition of the International Crown, which starts Thursday at New Korea Country Club in Goyang, just northwest of Seoul. The seven other teams in the competition are the United States, Japan, Australia, Thailand, Sweden, China, and the World Team, made up of players from a country not already qualified from regions, such as the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania.
According to Yonhap News Agency, South Korea won the 2018 International Crown as the host and will look to replicate that success on home soil this time. "We will have so many fans behind us at home," said Kim, the top-ranked South Korean at No. 8. "We will have the home advantage, and all four of us are in good form. Once the tournament begins, we will be even more fired up."
Kim may have the biggest advantage within her team, having won back-to-back Ladies European Tour events held at New Korea Country Club in 2024 and 2025. "We also played an LPGA tournament in Korea last week," Kim said, referring to the BMW Ladies Championship that took place on the southern coast. "There's no excuse for us, such as jet lag. We have no other option but to play well this week."
Kim said she had not yet shared secrets to success on the course with her teammates but added: "Even when I do, that conversation will stay within the team. You will get to see it from the way we play on the course." Kim played at the 2023 International Crown with Ko and Choi, while Ryu will make her debut this week.
Ko stated she doesn't really have advice to give to Ryu, a three-time LPGA winner and the 2023 LPGA Rookie of the Year. "If she can just play her game, I just need to go do my part," Ko added.
Choi and Ryu both picked Japan, the No. 2 seed, as the team to beat. Japan boasts three recent major champions in Mao Saigo, Miyu Yamashita, and Ayaka Furue. Two-time tour winner Rio Takeda completes the quartet. "Many Japanese courses are similar to Korean courses, and I think Japanese players should be familiar with the greens here," Choi said. "And those players have been playing well lately."
Ryu noted: "The greens here have a lot of undulation, and the Japanese players are great putters. They should have an advantage this week." South Korea and Japan are in Pool B, alongside Sweden and the World Team. Pool A teams are the U.S., Australia, Thailand, and China.
From Thursday to Saturday, the teams will play fourball matches in a two-on-two format. Each player will hit her own ball, and the lower score of the two teammates will count as the team's score on each hole. South Korea will open pool play against Sweden on Thursday and then will face the World Team on Friday and Japan on Saturday. A match win is worth one point, and a half point will be awarded to each team in case of a tie.
The top two teams from each pool will advance to the semifinals for Sunday morning. The two pool winners will each play the runners-up from the opposing pool in two singles matches and one foursome match. In the foursome, each team plays one ball, with the two teammates taking turns until the hole is completed. The final is scheduled for Sunday afternoon and will be played in the same format as the semifinals. The winning team will receive US$500,000, with each player getting $125,000.