"I've erased filling out my 20th win last week from my mind. I've buried the memory deep underground. I'll return to being a player without a win and focus solely on my golf again."
Park Min-ji (28, NH Investment & Securities) made these remarks in a meeting with the Seoul Economic Daily after completing the first round of the Korea Ladies Professional Golf (KLPGA) Tour Celltrion Queens Masters (total prize money of 1.5 billion won) held Thursday at Seongmunan Country Club (par 72) in Wonju, Gangwon Province. "If I get absorbed in the fact that I've reached 20 career wins, I think it would be difficult to achieve more or spend meaningful time during the rest of my playing career," she said.
Park, who debuted in 2017, overturned a five-stroke deficit to win in a come-from-behind victory at the Sh Suhyup Bank MBN Women's Open last week. With this, she became the third player in KLPGA history to reach the 20-win milestone, following the late Ku Ok-hee and Shin Ji-yai.
Now she stands at the starting point of opening a new era. If she wins this year's Celltrion Queens Masters, where she stood atop the podium for four consecutive years from 2021 to 2024, she would write history as the sole leader in all-time wins and the first to win a single tournament five times on the tour. While she might be expected to feel excited, Park instead appeared composed. "By reaching 20 wins, I've set down the burden on my mind," she said. "A 21st win would also be meaningful, but now I want to continue the play I need to do with a comfortable and gentle mind."
Her composure seems to owe much to the difficult time she endured last year. Park went through her first winless season since her debut last year. After earning one win in 2024 to reach 19 career wins, it took as long as one year and 11 months until her next victory. "People around me said I was caught in a slump at the cusp, and I wanted to get past this moment as quickly as possible," Park said. "Then, while at the practice range, I was inspired watching amateur players practice hard. I've recently increased my practice volume significantly, and I think that effort led to the result of winning."
That day, Park shot a 3-under 69 with three birdies and no bogeys. As of 3:30 p.m., she trailed co-leaders Son Ye-bin and Yang Hyo-jin, who were at 7-under, by four strokes. "My shots were less sharp than last week, so I lacked a few birdie chances," Park said, steeling her resolve. "Over the remaining two days, I'll play with a bit more focus on my shots." Last year's champion Lee Ga-young finished the opening day at 4-under after firing four consecutive birdies near the end of her round.
