Major Winner And Former World No.1 Retires at Age 33

So Yeon Ryu, a great golfer and former World No. 1, surprised everyone with her decision to retire at the age of 33. The South Korean golfer has achieved great success in her career and won many tournaments. She began her professional career 17 years ago at the age of 17. 

Her first victory came shortly after, as she won the Cactus Tour just a year later. The highlight of her career was winning the U.S. Women’s Open in 2011. Six years later, Ryu claimed the ANA Inspiration, her second major title, defeating the talented Lexi Thompson. 

So Yeon Ryu was part of both the LPGA Tour and the LPGA of Korea Tour, achieving six wins on the LPGA Tour and 10 wins on the LPGA of Korea Tour. Impressively, this South Korean was named LPGA Rookie of the Year in 2012 and LPGA Player of the Year five years later.

In her address on social media, So Yeon Ryu decided to confirm her decision, emphasizing that the Chevron Championship will be her last tournament on the LPGA Tour. Reflecting on her career and the successes she has achieved, South Korea has felt many emotions. After such a successful career, many memories come flooding back regarding victories, but also some less successful moments. Nevertheless, she is happy with everything she has accomplished in her career, always guided by love for golf and passion for the sport. Yeon Ryu is grateful to have been part of an era of women’s golf and to have made a huge mark on the golf scene.

“Hello everyone, Soyeon Ryu here.
I wanted to share one of the most significant decisions in my life with all of you today. Sadly, the Chevron Championship will be my last game on the LPGA tour.

After deciding to retire, I spent much time looking back on my career. So many memories came flooding back, and I felt so many emotions. But the more I thought about it, the more I was thankful for so many things. I am so grateful that I could do what I loved to do, day in and day out, and even make a career out of it. I am not going to lie; I had some hard patches, but despite some of the challenges, I truly enjoyed it all. And more than anything, I feel incredibly grateful for the love and support I’ve received from all of you throughout my career.”- she wrote!

Soyeon Ryu reflects on her career 

Golf is a sport she has played since early childhood. Dreaming of becoming a star in this sport, she always gave her best and trained hard. Throughout her career, Soyeon Ryu learned some important lessons, not only about golf but about life in general.

Such lessons will be valuable to her future, whether she decides to be a golf coach or take on another role in the world of golf. She hasn’t forgotten to thank those who have been her support since the first day of her career. Without such support, it’s difficult to achieve success and build a great career.

“People often say, “Golf is life,” and I couldn’t agree more. I’ve learned so much through this game: patience, respect for others, endurance, and much more. Golf has taught me so many lessons. Now, I want to do something to make this sport even better. So, I hope you continue supporting me in the next chapter of my life.

I’m looking forward to giving a big hug to all of my friends on tour soon. I sincerely appreciate all of your love and support throughout the years. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I’ll see you guys in Houston. ;)”– she concluded.

Several of her colleagues from the golf world decided to wish her good luck in the future and thank her for the shared moments. One of those who wished her luck is Nelly Korda, who eagerly awaits Soyeon Ryu’s next step.

“Can’t wait to see what you do next! Thank you for all the memories.”- Nelly Korda wrote.

It will be interesting to follow her future and see which path Soyeon Ryu will take. Her ambitions and plans for the future are still unknown. It seems that her priority at this point is to rest, reflect on her career experiences, and then consider her next steps. In any case, she has accomplished enough with her performances in the golf world, and we hope she will continue the same practice as a coach or in another role.