'A 10-year wait for a championship': The fiancé who became a caddie changed Lee Sang-yeop. "A huge mental boost, truly a significant difference" [Chuncheon field]

*This content was translated by AI.

"I received a lot of psychological support, so I think that led to the good result."

Lee Sang-yeop (32), who secured his second career victory in nearly 10 years, found the answer not in technical adjustments but in a psychological shift. The catalyst for this change was his fiancée.

On the 19th, Lee Sang-yeop finished atop the leaderboard at the 21st DB Insurance Promi Open, the 2026 KPGA Tour opener held at Chuncheon La Belle Golf & Resort (par 72, 7,254 yards), with a total of 23-under-par 265 strokes. The tournament's total prize money was 1 billion won.

Lee Sang-yeop, who claimed his first professional title at the Descente Korea Menswear Match Play on June 12, 2016, achieved his second KPGA Tour victory in his 104th career start, a feat accomplished after 9 years and 10 months, or precisely 3,598 days.

The performance was also impressive. Lee, who secured his first stroke-play victory, broke the all-time records for the most under-par score and lowest winning total in the history of the DB Insurance Promi Open. He also took home a prize of 200 million won.

After his 2016 victory, he was unable to maintain consistency and chose to enlist in the military following the 2022 season. Even after his discharge in 2024, the situation did not change significantly. In particular, although he returned to the KPGA Tour last year, he finished 105th in Genesis points and barely managed to retain his status after going through the Qualifying Tournament (QT).

Having prepared well during the off-season, Lee started the season opener in a tie for first place and maintained a top position throughout. In the fourth round, he surged toward victory by birdieing six consecutive holes from the start. Although he briefly faltered with a bogey on the eighth hole (par 4), he extended his lead with consecutive birdies on the 11th (par 5) and 12th (par 3) holes, capitalizing on his competitors' mistakes to lift the championship trophy.

After the victory ceremony, Lee spoke at a press conference, saying, "I was so nervous that I almost couldn't tee off. I'm still not quite sure how I feel." He added, "It's been 10 years since my last win, and I feel very proud. There were many difficult times. I went through a slump after returning from the military, but perhaps I didn't return too early. I am proud of myself."

Last year was by no means a satisfying period, but he had a realization at the end. "It was the season after my discharge, and I was not well prepared. My touch hadn't returned, so I spent the whole year trying this and that, wondering if this was right or that was right," he recalled. "I went to the seed tournament and played well on the final day, which gave me a sense that 'this is how I should play.' I maintained that mindset during the off-season by thinking about how I played at the time. I also participated in the Challenge Tour before the season opener, where I built my competitive feel and gained confidence, which led to this good result."

However, there was no major technical change. He admitted that psychological stability played a much larger role, thanks to his girlfriend, who transformed into his caddie. Although she is not a golfer and does not possess specialized knowledge, she draws on her experience working in the golf industry to offer advice that helps Lee.

Lee said, "My girlfriend knows a bit about sports, so I received a lot of psychological support, which I think led to the good result." He continued, "She is strict about mistakes, but she compensates for them well. When I was overly self-critical and about to collapse, she would encourage me with words like 'You're doing well. Keep doing what you're doing.' She helped me relax when my expression would contort. That's how I found my composure. For me, it made a truly significant difference."

After the second round, Lee cautiously revealed his thoughts on proposing to his girlfriend. "My wish is to get married next year. We are together with the intention of marriage, and she is helping me as my caddie. I haven't been able to propose yet because I wasn't mentally ready, but I plan to do it privately."

With his mind at ease, he decided to use his mistakes more boldly. Having a reliable fade shot, it helps him to eliminate one side of the course and shape his shots accordingly. "When I miss, I now recognize which side the miss will go to, so I no longer feel anxious about one side. Since I play a fade, I was nervous on the final hole, but I thought, 'Even if I miss, it will curve to the right,' and it curved well, leading to a good result."

Having won the season opener, he is setting even bigger goals. Lee stated, "There is a new rule that allows players who finish in the top 10 in the first half to participate in the Conferee Tour. I want to challenge that goal." He added, "As a player, my biggest goal is the Grand Slam, but rather than being too greedy, I think the results will follow if I focus on one hole at a time. Personally, I am eager for the Deokchun Award (Choi Jeo-ta (수상)). I intend to play each hole with the Deokchun Award in mind."

At the end of the press conference, Lee finally shared a message he had long wanted to convey. "There is a man, like a father, who has supported me for over 10 years, whether things were good or bad. He is Crioan Korea Jeong Cheol (CEO)." He continued, "I got to know him as a close friend of my father. He has supported me like a stepfather and served as a spiritual pillar. Even when things seemed impossible, he helped me not give up until the end. Just thinking of him makes my heart swell with emotion. I really wanted to express my gratitude."

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*This content was translated by AI.