Player Bio: So Yeon Ryu2022 U.S. Women's Open

Age: 31
Country: Republic of Korea
College: Yonsei University
Worldwide professional victories: 21 (6 on LPGA Tour)
Road to Pine Needles: Top 30 points leader in LPGA Tour's 2021 Race to CME Globe; Top 75 in Rolex Rankings as of April 6

Ryu introduced herself to the world with a playoff victory over countrywoman Hee Kyung Seo in the 2011 U.S. Women’s Open at The Broadmoor. It was the first aggregate playoff in the championship’s history (previously, the Women's Open had an 18-hole playoff to decide the championship in the event of a tie). Ryu forced the playoff by knocking her approach to 6 feet and making a birdie on the 72nd hole. Six years later, Ryu collected her second major championship in a sudden-death playoff over Lexi Thompson at the ANA Inspiration (now Chevron Championship). While competing on the LPGA Tour, Ryu, who owns 21 worldwide victories, took classes at Yonsei University in her native Korea, graduating in 2013 with a degree in sports business. She has six top-five finishes in 12 U.S. Women’s Open starts.     

U.S. Women's Open Playing Record