He is 163 centimeters tall and weighs 55 kilograms. I can't believe he is a slugger with a small physique. However, the driver shot of Hwang Yoo-min, who flies up to 285 yards with the sound of impact at the teeing ground, immediately shows why he got the nickname "little giant."
At the second round of the Doosan E&C Weave Championship, the opening game of the 2024 season of the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour, held at Teddy Valley Golf and Resort in Seogwipo, Jeju on Thursday, Hwang displayed more sophisticated driver shots. After posting 5-under 67 on the first day, Hwang also reduced his shots by five on the second day. Having posted 10-under 134 overall, Hwang became the lone lead by beating over Choi Gab-bin and Moon Jung-min, who tied for second. "I am happy to have reduced my shots by five on the second day following the first day. As I had a good start to this year's championship, I want to finish it off well," Hwang said. "I think what I prepared hard for last winter was shown in this year's championship. I will trust myself and work hard until the end."
Hwang, who ranked second in the distance category for driver shots with an average distance of 257.16 yards last season, has continued to display his slugging capability in this year's championship. He had 255.06 yards even when his carries and runs were greatly reduced due to rain on both the first and second days of the championship. When compared with the average distance of 236.87 yards for driver shots of players participating in this year's championship, Hwang is close to 20 yards different from the average distance of 236.87 yards.
Another remarkable record compared to last year is accuracy. Hwang, who ranked 110th last year with 62.82 percent of fairway seating rate, has rarely missed a fairway in this year's event. The seating rate of the fairway seating rate amounted to 78.57 percent. Even when he exited the fairway, he was close to the fairway, where he had no difficulty hitting the green with his second shot.
The key to improving accuracy in a year is low-ballistic driver shots. In order to lower the range to 22 meters, which is a ballistic missile that can capture both direction and distance, Hwang changed his driver shots to a low-spin driver with an average spin of 1,900 to 2,200 rpm. "We made changes in consideration of lower ballistics due to smaller wind impacts," said Sohn Hyung-woo, head of Callaway golf in charge of Hwang's club. "We have made various attempts to find the optimal ballistics as lowering ballistics reduces the distance needed to carry. I think our strategy to improve directionality by adjusting ballistics has been successful."
Hwang also garnered a decisive victory in the long-shot competition with Bang Shin-sil and Yoon Na-na, who both played on the first and second days of the competition. Hwang, who has a poor physical condition compared to Bang Shin-sil, who is 173 centimeters tall, and Yun Na, who is 170 centimeters tall, cited downswing by pressing the ball far away with his left foot as the secret to sending the ball far away. Hwang said, "I push the ground with my left foot and think that I will get up. To put it simply, it feels like I am jumping in place," adding, "It is also important to accelerate the club head at the moment of impact. The ball does not hit but passes by."
In recent years, the movement of the lower body has been reduced, and the movement of the hands, shoulders, back, pelvis and lower body have been corrected by back swing. "Unlike last year when he started swinging randomly, he is clearly following the order of his swing," said Han Yeon-hee, former coach of the Korean national golf team who coaches Hwang Yoo-min. "On top of that, he changed from back swing to back swing that does not collapse his lower body. As his swing has become simpler and he has focused more power on impact moment, Hwang is now able to play sophisticated long shots."
Yoon In-na, who returned to the KLPGA tour for the first time in a year and nine months due to suspension due to misplay, successfully passed the cut with 2-under 142. Yun In-na, who was on the verge of missing the cut by losing two pars through Hole 6 on the second day, displayed her potential to reduce two pars in the remaining holes.
Bang Shin-sil, who was at the bottom of the standings by posting three overs on the first day, successfully reversed the mood on the second day. He blocked just one bogey and garnered six birdies, but shot five under par to significantly elevate his ranking from the previous day. Bang Shin-sil, who is in the middle of the standings with Yoon Na-na, will challenge to join the top 10 on the third and final day of the championship.
BY: <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.outlookindia.com/outlook-spotlight/2023년-한