Na Yeon said the hardest thing she'd ever done is learn to swim. Find out more >>
5’5”...Started playing golf at the age of 11...Credits her father as the individual most influencing her career...Hobbies shooting pool and watching volleyball…Travels with a full-time English language tutor...Qualified for the Tour on her first attempt.
2012 in a Nutshell
- 22 events, 21 cuts made, $1,981,834 (2)
- 10 top-10 finishes, 6 top-5 finishes
- Captured her first LPGA major victory at the U.S. Women’s Open and earned her seventh career win at the season-ending CME Group Titleholders
Career
In 2011, recorded her fifth-career LPGA victory at the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia; finished second in the race for the Vare Trophy with a scoring average of 70.53; other top-10 finishes included: second at the Safeway Classic Presented by Coca- Cola where she lost in a playoff to Suzann Pettersen, second at the LPGA HanaBank Championship, third at the Sybase Match Play Championship and the Mizuno Classic; tied for third at the Avnet LPGA Classic; tied for fourth at the CME Group Titleholders; tied for fifth at the Kia Classic; finished sixth at the HSBC Women's Champions and the CN Canadian Women's Open where she crossed the $5 million mark in career earnings; tied for seventh at the RICOH Women's British Open; tied for 10th at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship. Also won the Hanwha Finance Classic on the KLPGA.
In 2010, won the 2010 LPGA Official Money List and Vare Trophy for lowest scoring average (69.8); also led the Tour in birdies (338), percentage of rounds under par (57/79, 72.2%) and sand saves (67.3%); 2on the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic Presented by Kroger and the LPGA Hana Bank Championship Presented by SK telecom, the third and fourth victories of her LPGA career; tied for second at the LPGA State Farm Classic, U.S. Women's Open, Evian Masters Presented by Société Générale and Safeway Classic Presented by Coca-Cola; tied for third at the RICOH Women's British Open and the Navistar LPGA Classic Presented by Monaco RV; also tied for fourth at the Bell Micro LPGA Classic; tied for fifth at the Mizuno Classic and the LPGA Tour Championship; tied for seventh at the Lorena Ochoa Invitational Presented by Banamex and Corona Light; tied for ninth at the HSBC Women's Champions and the P&G NW Arkansas Championship Presented by Walmart; tied for 11th at the CN Canadian Women's Open; tied for 13th at the season-opening Honda PTT LPGA Thailand; finished 14th at the Kia Classic Presented by J Golf and tied for 16th at the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia.
In 2009, became a Rolex First-Time Winner at the Samsung World Championship, where she recorded a career-low 63 in the third round and crossed the $2 million mark in career earnings; won the Hana Bank - KOLON Championship 2009 for her second career victory, where she crossed the $1 million mark in season earnings; finished in the top-10 nine other times
In 2008, was runner-up to Yani Tseng by 267 points in the race for Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year honors on the strength of nine top-10 finishes; recorded season-best runner-up finishes at the Sybase Classic Presented by ShopRite and the Evian Masters, where she lost to Helen Alfredsson in a three-hole, sudden-death playoff; carded a season-low 65 in the second round of the P&G Beauty NW Arkansas Championship, where she tied for eighth; crossed the $1 million mark in season and career earnings at the Samsung World Championship.
In 2007, as a member of the Korea LPGA (KLPGA), tied for eighth at the Hana Bank • KOLON Championship; won her fourth KLPGA event at the Shinsegye Cup KLPGA Championship; tied for 20th at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament to earn non-exempt status for the 2008 LPGA season.
In 2006, won the KB Star Tour in Hampyung on the KLPGA.
In 2005, won the Lake Side Ladies Open on the KLPGA.
In 2004, as an amateur, won the ADT CAPS Invitational on the KLPGA; turned professional in November.
Amateur
Choi was a member of the Korean National Team. She won the 2004 ADT CAPS Invitational on the KLPGA and turned professional following the victory.
