Kim Mi-hyun Continues to Improve
Among the Korean female golfers on the LPGA tour this season, Kim Mi-hyun (30, KTF) currently ranks 4th in prize money earned. Being the shortest (153cm) and oldest golfer among the top 5 golfers in this category, it appears she has a lot of obstacles to overcome. But still she manages to stay at the top of her game. What is her secret?
We met up with Kim at a Hanbok shop in Gangnam, Seoul. She said Its a grind to continue playing on the tour. The younger players are very talented and the courses keep getting longer.
Both Lorena Ochoa (Mexico) and Susan Peterson (Norway), top earners on this years LPGA tour, have a driving average over 270 yards.
In the meantime, Kims driving average is 240 yards, 30 yards shorter than theirs.
Kim said While Ochoa or Peterson hit their second shots with a 9 iron, I have to use a 5 hybrid iron.
In order to overcome her handicap, Kim underwent rigorous training and explicit posture correctional exercises.
She said, I erased the very idea of having disadvantages. Whenever my shots werent as good as Id like them to be, I swing away until I am satisfied. During the season, I arrived at the golf course much earlier than other players.
Kim used to be famous for an over the top swing. To fix this problem, she reduced the arc in her swing and learned to use her body more by implementing a body turn swing.
Kim said, Its difficult to switch to a new style after Ive been swinging a certain way for over 10 years, but I managed to adapt and it actually helped improve the accuracy of my shots and reduce the frequency of injuries I had suffered. She still carries six wooden clubs in her bag.
She currently ranks 7th in fairway landing percentage at 76.7, 18th in green landing percentage at 65.4, and 3rd in putts per hole at 1.78.
To the weekend golfers who are always looking to improve their drives, she gives this piece of advice: The swing speed toward the impact zone and hitting a golf ball accurately is key. So when you wind up, do it slowly, but on the downswing, swing hard.
She also emphasized the importance of warming up before any exercise.
If you do some leg lifts while lying down on the floor, it will help develop the necessary muscles which will help you hit the ball further.
Kim left for Fukuoka, Japan on November 28, for the Korea-Japan golf tournament. On December 3 she will receive the grand award of the KLPGA.
Kim has always had a packed schedule. We pointed out that she will turn 32 next year. She replied, Are you asking about my marriage plans?
kjs0123@donga.com
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