For those unfamiliar with So Yeon Ryu, it seemed like a stunning gesture, the kind of spontaneous generosity that brings a sudden and unexpected flood of emotions to those who witness it. But for those who have known her for nearly a decade, no act of kindness, big or small, comes as a surprise.

So Yeon Ryu wins Korean Women's Open with amazing donation

So Yeon Ryu - Photo: DR

So Yeon Ryu won Sunday's 34th Kia Motors Korean Women's Open Championship, her country's national championship, with a score of 72, tied with par, for a total of 12 under par, good enough to lead by a blow his compatriot Hyo Joo Kim, member of the LPGA Tour.

So Yeon Ryu made it through courage and consistency, realizing a bogey, birdie and 16 par in the last round, none more important than the par on the last hole. Clinging to a one-shot lead over Kim, Ryu found the bunker with his approach. The shot seemed difficult, but Ryu executed it to perfection, allowing himself a short putt to secure par and victory.

It was Ryu's first Korean Women's Open title, but her fifth national championship. She also won the 2011 US Women's Open in Colorado, an event that has propelled her in the memory of golf fans around the world, the China Ladies Open 2009, the CP Women's Open 2014 and the Japan Women's Open 2018.

The victory also marked her first competitive start since February, when she started her season on the LPGA Tour at the ISPS Handa Vic Open and the ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open.

But as interesting and funny as these facts may be, they are nothing compared to what So Yeon Ryu did immediately after winning the Korean Women's Open. During her post-match press conference, the 29-year-old announced that she had donated her entire victory check, worth 250 million won ($ 206), to related charities. to COVID-000.

"I have thought about making the donation since last night"said So Yeon Ryu on Sunday. “Before the awards ceremony, I called my mom and told her I was going to make the announcement, so she shouldn't be too surprised. She was as happy as I was. "

“As this tournament means a lot to me, I thought maybe I could play better if I had a positive goal. This is what I did last night. "

As incredible as this gesture may seem, there is nothing unusual about So Yeon Ryu. In Australia, earlier this year, she donated all of her earnings from the two ISPS Handa events, including her runner-up at the Vic Open, to the benefit of firefighting. When she won the Meijer LPGA Classic in 2018, she made a huge contribution to the Meijer Food Bank. She has made equally impressive donations of money and time to the Marilynn Smith Fellowship and other worthy causes.

These are not symbolic donations or tax write-offs. These are not contributions " did you see me " of a celebrity wanting to appear magnanimous. So Yeon Ryu does much more in private than the donations she announces to the public. A fervent Christian, she sets a good example, overwhelming those who know her with her generosity, not only in her gifts but also in her spirit.

That's why she made those who heard her Korean Open press conference laugh when she said: “I think humans are really greedy creatures because after winning this tournament I started to want to win the British Open. Hope I win this one too. "

Many words come to mind when people think of So Yeon Ryu - kind, generous, inspiring, talented, patient, friendly. No matter how many championships she wins, "Greedy" will never be on this list.

To know more : https://www.lpga.com/

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