Eun Hee Ji

Ji Eun-hee Bio

Ji Eun-hee, also known professionally as Eun-Hee Ji, is a South Korean professional golfer who competed on the U.S.-based LPGA Tour and the domestic KLPGA Tour. She is best known for winning the 2009 U.S. Women’s Open, a major championship, with a dramatic birdie on the 72nd hole. Across her career, she collected 10 professional victories spanning the LPGA Tour, the LPGA of Korea, and the Ladies Asian Golf Tour.

Born and raised in Gapyeong, South Korea, Ji attended Chung-Ang University before turning professional in 2004. She joined the LPGA Tour in 2007 and quickly became a respected international competitor, retiring at the conclusion of the 2025 season.

Early Life and Background

Ji Eun-hee was born on 13 May 1986 in Gapyeong, a county in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. She grew up in a country with a deep golfing tradition, where the sport has produced generations of world-class players. From an early age, she showed an aptitude for the game, and her family supported her development as a young athlete.

She later moved to Seoul to attend Chung-Ang University, one of South Korea’s well-regarded institutions, where she continued to refine her golf skills. Her collegiate years helped her prepare for the demands of competitive professional golf, both technically and mentally.

Path to Professional Golf

Ji turned professional in 2004 and immediately joined the KLPGA Tour, the top women’s professional golf circuit in South Korea. She played on the KLPGA from 2004 onward, gaining valuable experience against established domestic competitors and building a foundation of tournament toughness.

In 2007, Ji earned LPGA Tour membership and crossed the Pacific to compete on the women’s game biggest stage. In her first season, she played only four LPGA events yet recorded two top-10 finishes, including a runner-up result at the Hana Bank-KOLON Championship. That same year, she made her major-championship debut at the 2007 Women’s British Open and finished in fifth place, signaling her readiness for the highest level of the sport.

Ji Eun-hee Career

Early Career (2004-2006)

Ji began her professional career on the KLPGA Tour in 2004, where she steadily developed her game. Her early years on the Korean circuit allowed her to build confidence and to collect early wins that established her as one of the promising talents in South Korean women’s golf.

During this developmental period, she also competed on the Ladies Asian Golf Tour, where she picked up additional victories. These regional successes helped prepare her for the international stage and ultimately paved the way for her transition to the LPGA Tour.

LPGA Tour Breakthrough (2007-2009)

Ji joined the LPGA Tour in 2007 and made an immediate impression. In 2008, she claimed her first LPGA victory at the Wegmans LPGA, rallying from behind to defeat Norway’s Suzann Pettersen by two strokes. The win announced her arrival as a contender on tour.

Her career-defining moment came at the 2009 U.S. Women’s Open, one of the women’s game’s premier major championships. Trailing Cristie Kerr late in the final round, Ji made a 20-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole to win by one stroke. The come-from-behind victory marked her first major title and remains the most celebrated achievement of her career.

Later LPGA Career (2010-2015)

Following her major triumph, Ji continued to compete regularly on the LPGA Tour. In 2012, she finished tied for second at the LPGA Championship, having held the lead heading into the final round. She also recorded a tied 11th finish at the 2012 Chevron Championship and a tied third result at the 2008 Women’s British Open, demonstrating consistent play in major championships.

Across her major-championship appearances, Ji posted a tied eighth result at the 2015 Evian Championship, further underlining her longevity at the top level. She continued to add LPGA Tour victories throughout this period, contributing to a career total of six wins on the tour.

Final Years on Tour (2016-2025)

Ji remained a familiar presence on the LPGA Tour in the years following her major-championship breakthrough, balancing her schedule between the LPGA and the KLPGA. She continued to play competitive golf into her late thirties, drawing on her wealth of experience.

Following the 2025 season, Ji retired from professional golf, closing out a career that spanned more than two decades and produced 10 professional wins across multiple tours.

Notable Events and Milestones

The 2009 U.S. Women’s Open stands as the centerpiece of Ji’s career, with her 20-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole widely regarded as one of the most dramatic finishes in the championship’s history. The Wegmans LPGA victory in 2008 marked her first LPGA Tour title, while her top finishes at the LPGA Championship, the Women’s British Open, and the Evian Championship reflected her consistency across the major championships. After her 2008 Wegmans win, her use of a translator during the acceptance speech drew attention and contributed to a broader LPGA discussion about an English-only rule, a topic she later addressed publicly.

Ji Eun-hee Career Wins

Ji Eun-hee recorded 10 professional victories across three tours during her career, split between the LPGA Tour, the KLPGA Tour, and the Ladies Asian Golf Tour. Her wins include one major championship and several significant titles on the Korean and Asian circuits.

LPGA Tour Highlights

Ji won six times on the LPGA Tour. Her first victory came at the 2008 Wegmans LPGA, a come-from-behind win over Suzann Pettersen. Her most prestigious LPGA win was the 2009 U.S. Women’s Open, a major championship, sealed by a birdie on the final hole. Her remaining LPGA victories followed over the course of her career, establishing her as one of the most successful South Korean players of her generation.

Other Wins and Performances

Beyond the LPGA Tour, Ji collected two victories on the KLPGA Tour and two wins on the Ladies Asian Golf Tour. She recorded strong finishes in major championships throughout her career, including a tied second at the 2012 LPGA Championship, a tied third at the 2008 Women’s British Open, a tied 11th at the 2012 Chevron Championship, and a tied eighth at the 2015 Evian Championship.

Ji Eun-hee Family

Family Background and Racing Lineage

Ji Eun-hee was raised in Gapyeong, South Korea. Detailed information about her parents and siblings is not publicly available in verified sources.

Personal Life

Ji has made her home in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, throughout her professional career. She is known publicly for her dedication to golf and for her gracious acceptance speeches, which she sometimes delivered with the assistance of a translator early in her career.

2025 Season Performance

Ji Eun-hee’s 2025 season marked the final year of her professional golf career. Competing on the LPGA Tour against a new generation of international players, she drew on decades of experience as she navigated a demanding schedule. Her presence in the field reflected the respect she had earned across the women’s game.

Throughout the season, Ji continued to compete with characteristic poise, adding her veteran perspective to tournament fields across multiple countries. The 2025 campaign served as a farewell tour of sorts, allowing colleagues, competitors, and fans to recognize her contributions to the sport.

Following the conclusion of the 2025 season, Ji retired from professional golf, closing the book on a career that included 10 professional wins, a major championship, and more than two decades of competition on three different tours.