Seon Hwa Lee Interview

Seoul Sisters Magazine: When did you start playing golf?
Seon Hwa Lee: When I was 7 years old. I turned pro (when I was) 14 years old in Korea.
SS: Yeah, I know! Did you play a lot of amateur golf before you turned pro?
SHL: Yeah, I played seven years amateur. I think I was ready to play on the KLPGA professionally. I won a big competition. Professional.
SS: You won a professional tournament? Back when you were an amateur?
SHL: Yeah.
SS: How old were you?
SHL: When I was 14 years old, in high school. That's why I turned pro. Yeah.
SS: Oh, I see.
SHL: I think I had a lot of experience. And since I turned pro, I (have) played pretty well. So I didn't regret it.
SS: Yeah, you did! How long had you been playing golf before you thought you might be able to make a career out of it? Did you get good right away?
SHL: Yeah, yeah I think so.
SS: What was your first tournament ever? Do you remember?
SHL: First tournament? When I was 8 years old. I started playing when I was 7 years old.
SS: Well, you wanted to get a little practice before you played (a tournament)
SHL: Yes, my first tournament (was) when I was 8 years old. I shot 104.
SS: 104? Oh my gosh!
SHL: (laughs)
SS: So it was a one round tournament?
SHL: Actually, two rounds, but I missed the cut! (laughs). 104 is a pretty bad score.
SS: What is that, 32 over par?
SHL: Uh huh.
SS: Bet you did better the next time!
SHL: Yeah. Next time, when I was nine years old, I did second place three times. Three times second place. Yeah.
SS: Oh wow! So already when you were nine…
SHL: Yeah (laughs)
SS: Were you competing against adults (yet)?
SHL: No, 9 years to 13. Yeah.
SS: Interesting, interesting. So when did you first play an event against adults?
SHL: I think (when I was) 12 years old. Yeah. I played the KLPGA tour people. Cause I was amateur, I (had to) qualify. I made qualify and then I played three days tournament (on the) KLPGA.
SS: They let 12 year olds play?
SHL: Yep.
SS: Is there any age limit on that tour?
SHL: Nope.
SS: No? So if you're good enough, even if you're eight, you could play?
SHL: Uh huh, yeah.
SS: So how did the adult golfers treat you? Did they get worried that this little kid was playing them?
SHL: Oh no. Well, maybe, maybe not… (laughs)
SS: (Laughs) It wasn't too bad, was it?
SHL: Yeah.
SS: Were the youngest that ever turned pro in Korea?
SHL: Yeah. I'm the youngest.
SS: So did you have trouble on tour at first? I mean, did you have friends?
SHL: My parents traveled with me every time, so… My parents drive for me, my mom cooks for me.
SS: So who was the next youngest player on tour? Were there any other teenagers?
SHL: Yeah, I think that (it was) KB (Kyeong Bae).
SS: Yeah, she turned pro pretty young also.
SHL: Yeah, same year, but I'm younger (than she is).
SS: It seems like you two have really had the same kind of careers. You're both with CJ…
SHL: Yeah.
SS: You both were on the Futures Tour last year
SHL: Mm hmm.
SS: Is she a good friend of yours, or just someone you know?
SHL: I just know her.
SS: How many tournaments would you play in a year when you were 14, 15?
SHL: I think 10 tournaments.
SS: Wow, that's a lot!
SHL: There are only ten tournaments that we have in Korea (in a year).
SS: So you played the whole season?
SHL: Uh huh. The whole season, yeah.
SS: Wow. So were you in school at that time?
SHL: Yeah. I was in school, too.
SS: So you just tell your teachers that you're off to play in a tournament?
SHL: (laughs) Yeah.
SS: So how long were you on the KLPGA?
SHL: I turned pro in 2000, and I played I think four years. And I played two years (on the) Futures Tour.
SS: At what point did you decide you wanted to come to America?
SHL: Actually, my goal was (always) LPGA.
SS: Really?
SHL: Yeah, every Korean girl's goal is like LPGA. So, like, Se Ri Pak? You know? Yeah.
SS: But they didn't used to come to the LPGA, right? I mean, Se Ri wanted to do it, and now everyone… well, maybe not everyone…
SHL: Yeah, almost everyone… (laughs)
SS: (laughs) Well, it seems like it!
SHL: Yeah. I played four years (on the) KLPGA, I think I got a lot of experience, and I think I like to play the LPGA. So I decided not (to go to) qualifying (for the LPGA), I wanted more experience through (the) Futures Tour. So I decided to go to Futures Tour. But I didn't get LPGA card…
SS: In the first year.
SHL: Yeah. I didn't make qualifying, so… prepare for (one) more year (laughs).