LPGA star So-Yeon Ryu retires at age 33

So-yeon Ryu (Keith Allison, Wikimedia Commons)

According to Kent Paisley of Golf Digest on Thursday, So-Yeon Ryu of Seoul, South Korea has retired at the age of 33. Ryu was a two-time major champion as she won the 2011 United States Women’s Open and the 2017 ANA Inspiration. Ryu was also a six-time winner on the LPGA Tour, and was first in the world for 19 weeks during the 2017 golf season.

Ryu won both of her major titles in a playoff. When she won the 2011 United States Women’s Open at the Broadmoor East Course in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Ryu posted a four-round score of -3, and was tied with fellow Korean Hee Kyung Seo. Then in the three hole playoff, Ryu shot a score of two-under-par as she birdied the 17th and 18th holes, while Seo shot a score of one-over-par, as she bogeyed the 17th hole.

Then at the 2017 ANA Inspiration, Ryu posted a four-round score of -14 and beat 2014 ANA Inspiration winner Lexi Thompson of Coral Springs, Florida in a playoff. In the playoff, Ryu birdied the 18th hole, while Thompson had a score of par. The 2017 ANA Inspiration will best be remembered by Thompson’s four stroke penalty on the 17th hole in round three. Thompson was penalized four strokes (two strokes for incorrectly placing the golf ball and then an additional two strokes for incorrectly signing her card). Where the controversy lies is that Thompson’s error was seen by a television viewer who notified the necessary people. It should be noted that all golfers have their shots shown on television, and the added television exposure to Thompson put her at a disadvantage. Ryu meanwhile is one of six Koreans to win the ANA Inspiration. The last was Mirim Lee in 2020.