By Kim Minji

Photos = Jeon Han

Gyeonggi-do Province ㅣ May 16, 2020 

The 42nd Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Championship, held under the slogan "Overcome COVID-19, fighting Korea" at Lakewood Country Club in Yangju, Gyeonggi-do Province, on May 17 saw Park Hyun-kyung lifting the winner's trophy with a 17-under 271.

As the world's first pro golf tournament held since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, the championship on May 13 attracted hundreds of domestic and overseas media personnel.

The championship was broadcast live by channels in 44 countries including Fox Sports Australia and Sky A of Japan. The U.S. network NBC reported the results through highlights.

To prevent the further spread of the coronavirus, the event was held with no galleries under strict quarantine measures and thorough disinfection before play started. This attracted quite a bit of attention.

Media coverage focused on the event's quarantine measures just as much as on the results. Korea.net examined disinfection measures as they started at 5:30 a.m on May 16, when the third round began. 

Quarantine measures were thoroughly conducted from dawn in all places the golfers might have touched.

A walk-thru UV sterilization machine was installed at the entrance to a players-only space. Disinfection workers started with the locker room, spraying germicide and meticulously wiping everywhere players could have touched. They then did the same at the driving range, the reception desk, elevators and bathrooms.

Quarantine measures did not stop with disinfection. Players at the driving range had to keep their distance from each other, and the same was done at the players' cafeteria, with everyone seated apart from each other.

Park Ji-noo, head of the KLPGA's planning and marketing team, said, "Even golfers' families cannot enter (the player-only facility)," adding, "Access by staff and media is also strictly regulated."

Players were also not exempt from strict quarantine. They arrived at the venue wearing masks, had their temperatures checked and filled out health surveys, after which they received stickers to show that they had undergone checks.

The majority of golfers practicing wore masks and competitors who knew each other talked with their masks on at a distance. They also used elbow bumps as greetings instead of shaking hands or giving a high five.


After entering the teeing area, many golfers took off their masks under quarantine guidelines. Caddies, however, had to keep them on throughout the event, as well as tournament staff and media personnel.

Park expressed pride in the thorough quarantine preparation conducted at the site, saying, "At the media center, all desks were placed apart from each other and had anti-germ film attached."

Thus the tournament ended with no suspected infections.

kimmj7725@korea.kr