Hello, Golf fans! If you love following the Golf and admire world-class, So Yeon Ryu is a name you’ll recognize instantly. So Yeon Ryu is a retired South Korean professional golfer, a two‑time major champion and former world No. 1 who finished her LPGA career in 2024 and got married in late 2025. In 2026 she is regarded as one of the most consistent and respected players of her generation,
So Yeon Ryu’s Biography
| Attribute | Details |
| Full Name | Ryu So-yeon (유소연) |
| Nickname | So Yeon Ryu |
| Date of Birth | June 29, 1990 |
| Age | 35 years old |
| Place of Birth | Seoul, South Korea |
| Nationality | South Korean |
| Height | 5’6″ (168 cm) |
| University | Yonsei University |
| Turned Professional | 2007 |
| Net Worth | $12-15 million |
| Husband | Matthew Jung |
| Relationship Status | Married |
| Instagram Profile | @1soyeonryu |
Early Career
Ryu’s entry into professional golf was remarkably swift and successful. She turned professional at age 17 in 2007 and earned her first professional victory just months later in February 2008 on the American Cactus Tour, winning by six strokes. She subsequently joined the LPGA of Korea Tour, where she immediately demonstrated her exceptional talent. In her rookie year on the Korean circuit, she won the Sports Seoul Open, and then captured an impressive five tournament victories in 2009 alone.
This early success on the Korean tour established her as one of the most promising young talents in Asia and set the stage for her eventual move to the competitive LPGA Tour. Her early career earnings and victories demonstrated that she possessed the skill, mental toughness, and competitive drive necessary to compete at the highest levels of professional golf.
Professional Career
Ryu’s professional career reached its zenith when she joined the LPGA Tour in 2012 as a rookie. Before her official LPGA debut, she captured the prestigious U.S. Women’s Open in 2011 at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, defeating fellow South Korean Hee Kyung Seo in a dramatic three-hole playoff. This victory, which came when she was still technically an amateur LPGA competitor, immediately established her as a major championship contender.
Throughout her LPGA tenure, Ryu accumulated six tour victories, two of which came in major championships. Her second major came at the 2017 ANA Inspiration, where she defeated American Lexi Thompson in a playoff despite the controversy surrounding Thompson’s four-stroke penalty. Ryu earned the 2012 Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year Award, accumulating an outstanding 1,448 points in the voting standings. In 2017, she achieved the pinnacle of professional golf when she captured the No. 1 ranking in the Women’s Official World Golf Rankings, a position she held for 19 weeks.
That same year, she was named co-LPGA Player of the Year and received the Rolex Annika Major Award. Throughout her career, Ryu finished in the top ten an remarkable 97 times in 245 career events, demonstrating consistency at golf’s highest level. She made cuts in 188 of her 198 starts on the LPGA Tour, an exceptional 94.9% rate that showcases her reliability as a competitor.
Husband
In December 2025, So Yeon Ryu married Matthew Jung in an elegant ceremony held at the prestigious Shilla Hotel in Seoul, South Korea. The couple met through a blind date and quickly discovered they shared compatible values and interests. Matthew Jung is a Korean-American businessman who grew up in the United States until age 25 before relocating to South Korea in 2012, where he has resided for approximately ten years.
Interestingly, when Ryu was competing in the United States on the LPGA Tour, Matthew was already settled in Korea, creating a unique timing that eventually led to their connection. The couple got engaged in April 2025, and Ryu announced the engagement publicly with genuine joy and enthusiasm. According to available information as of January 2026, Ryu and Matthew have not yet had children, though the couple has expressed enthusiasm about their future together.
Notably, Matthew enjoys golf, though Ryu has humorously mentioned he is still developing his skills in the sport. The wedding was attended by numerous golf celebrities, including fellow former World No. 1 players Inbee Park, Yani Tseng, Jiyai Shin, and Ai Miyazato, highlighting the strong relationships Ryu has cultivated throughout her professional career.
So Yeon Ryu’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, So Yeon Ryu’s estimated net worth stands between $12 and $15 million, a testament to her extraordinarily successful professional golf career spanning 16 years at the highest levels of professional competition. Her official LPGA Tour career earnings total $12,237,173, placing her 22nd on the all-time LPGA money list, a remarkable achievement considering she played during an era when purses were significantly smaller than those available to today’s professional golfers.
When combined with her earnings from Korean LPGA tours, international competitions, and other professional events worldwide, her total career earnings exceed $12.9 million. This substantial wealth accumulated through her tournament victories, consistent top-ten finishes, and prestigious major championship successes reflects not only her exceptional talent but also her longevity and consistency in professional golf.
Prize Money
| Year | Tournament/Event | Prize Money (USD) | Status |
| 2008 | Event #3 at Wigwam Red (KLPGA) | $10,000 | Professional Win |
| 2009 | Five KLPGA victories combined | $75,000 | Professional Wins |
| 2011 | U.S. Women’s Open (Major) | $600,000+ | Career-changing Victory |
| 2012 | Jamie Farr Toledo Classic (LPGA) | $195,000 | LPGA Tour Win |
| 2012 | LPGA Rookie Year Total | $1,282,673 | Rookie of the Year |
| 2014 | Canadian Pacific Women’s Open (LPGA) | $240,000 | LPGA Tour Win |
| 2015 | World Ladies Championship (Individual) | $180,000 | International Win |
| 2017 | Walmart NW Arkansas Championship | $300,000 | LPGA Tour Win |
| 2017 | ANA Inspiration (Major) | $630,000+ | Major Championship |
| 2017 | Total Year Earnings | $1,981,593 | Best Year Earnings |
| 2018 | Meijer LPGA Classic | $240,000 | LPGA Tour Win |
| 2020 | Korea Women’s Open (Donated to COVID Relief) | $200,000 | Charity Donation |
| 2022 | Simone Asia Pacific Cup Team Win | $250,000 | International Team Event |
| Career Total | LPGA Tour | $12,237,173 | Complete Career |
Endorsements
- Titleist Golf Equipment: Primary equipment sponsor providing golf balls, drivers, fairway woods, hybrids, irons, wedges, and putters throughout her professional career
- Titleist Pro V1 Golf Balls: Brand ambassador actively promoting the performance characteristics of Titleist’s premium golf ball line
- Vokey Design Wedges: Official endorsement for pitching, sand, and lob wedges used in tournament competition
- Scotty Cameron Putters: Partnership for premium putter equipment utilized during professional competitions
- Hanwha Financial Group: Major Korean corporate sponsor providing financial support and team backing
- Hana Financial Group: Secondary Korean financial institution sponsorship during mid-career years
- JDX Multisports: Golf fashion brand providing apparel and merchandise
- Nike Golf: Past apparel and footwear partnership during portions of her career
- Various Korean corporate sponsors: Including Samsung, LG, and other major Korean conglomerates that sponsored tournaments and teams
Career Records
| Achievement | Details | Opponent/Context |
| U.S. Women’s Open (2011) | Major Championship Victory | Defeated Hee Kyung Seo in 3-hole playoff at The Broadmoor |
| ANA Inspiration (2017) | Major Championship Victory | Defeated Lexi Thompson in playoff at Mission Hills CC |
| World No. 1 Ranking | Held for 19 weeks (June-November 2017) | Achieved after Walmart NW Arkansas Championship |
| LPGA Rookie of the Year (2012) | 1,448 points (600+ point lead over runner-up) | Defeated Lexi Thompson decisively |
| LPGA Tour Wins | 6 total victories | Multiple tournament victories between 2012-2018 |
| KLPGA Tour Wins | 10 victories | Dominated Korean professional circuit 2008-2015 |
| Career Top-10 Finishes | 97 total in 245 events (39.6% rate) | Consistent performance at highest level |
| Career Cut-Making Percentage | 94.9% (188 of 198 starts) | Exceptional consistency and reliability |
| Career-Low Round | 61 strokes | Second round of 2017 Walmart NW Arkansas Championship |
| Jamie Farr Toledo Classic (2012) | Won by 7 strokes over Angela Stanford | Dominant performance in LPGA debut year |
| Walmart NW Arkansas Championship (2017) | Victory margin: 2 strokes over Amy Yang | Elevated to World No. 1 ranking |
| Meijer LPGA Classic (2018) | 2-stroke victory over Caroline Masson | Continued competitive excellence |
| World Ladies Championship (2015) | Individual and team victories (LET event) | International competition success |
| Mission Hills World Ladies Championship (2014) | Victory over Inbee Park by 1 stroke | Individual and team competition |
| Korea Women’s Open (2020) | Victory and $200,000 donated to COVID-19 relief | Charitable impact and victory |
FAQs
1. When did So Yeon Ryu retire from professional golf?
So Yeon Ryu announced her retirement from professional golf in March 2024, marking the conclusion of her 16-year professional career. She played her final LPGA Tour event at the Chevron Championship in April 2024, missing the cut in her farewell tournament at age 33. Her retirement came after an incredibly successful career that saw her achieve World No. 1 status, win two major championships, and accumulate $12.2 million in official LPGA earnings.
2. How many major championships did So Yeon Ryu win during her career?
So Yeon Ryu won exactly two major championships during her professional career, both coming through dramatic playoff victories. Her first major came at the 2011 U.S. Women’s Open at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, where she defeated Hee Kyung Seo in a three-hole aggregate playoff. Her second major championship came at the 2017 ANA Inspiration (now called the Chevron Championship) at Mission Hills Country Club, where she defeated American Lexi Thompson in a sudden-death playoff that was controversial due to Thompson’s late four-stroke penalty.
3. What is So Yeon Ryu’s relationship status as of 2026?
So Yeon Ryu is married as of December 2025. She married Matthew Jung, a Korean-American businessman, in an elegant ceremony at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul, South Korea. The couple met through a blind date, got engaged in April 2025, and married in December 2025. As of January 2026, the couple does not yet have children, though they have expressed enthusiasm about their future together.
4. How much money did So Yeon Ryu earn from professional golf?
So Yeon Ryu’s official LPGA Tour career earnings total $12,237,173, ranking her 22nd on the all-time LPGA money list. When additional earnings from the Korean LPGA Tour, international competitions, and other professional events are included, her total career earnings exceed $12.9 million. Her net worth as of 2026 is estimated between $12 and $15 million, making her one of the wealthiest players in women’s golf history.
5. What are So Yeon Ryu’s total professional tournament wins?
So Yeon Ryu accumulated a total of 21 professional tournament victories throughout her career. This includes six LPGA Tour victories, ten KLPGA Tour victories, and five wins on other international professional tours including the Ladies European Tour and LPGA of Japan Tour. Two of these victories were major championships, representing the pinnacle of achievement in professional golf.
6. Who did So Yeon Ryu defeat in her major championship victories?
At the 2011 U.S. Women’s Open, So Yeon Ryu defeated South Korean rival Hee Kyung Seo in a three-hole aggregate playoff. At the 2017 ANA Inspiration, she defeated American golfer Lexi Thompson in a sudden-death playoff, with the victory coming under controversial circumstances involving a four-stroke penalty assessed to Thompson during the final round.
7. How long did So Yeon Ryu hold the World No. 1 ranking?
So Yeon Ryu achieved the World No. 1 ranking on June 26, 2017, following her victory at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship, where she defeated Amy Yang and Moriya Jutanugarn by two strokes. She maintained this World No. 1 ranking for 19 consecutive weeks, making her only the 11th female player to reach the top ranking in the Women’s Official World Golf Rankings.
8. What awards and honors did So Yeon Ryu receive throughout her career?
So Yeon Ryu received numerous prestigious honors including the 2012 Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year Award, which she won decisively by accumulating 1,448 points—over 600 points more than the runner-up. In 2017, she was named co-LPGA Player of the Year (sharing the honor with Sung Hyun Park) and received the Rolex Annika Major Award for her exceptional performance in major championships. She was also a three-time member of Team Korea at the UL International Crown with an impressive 9-2-1 overall record.
9. What is So Yeon Ryu’s educational background?
So Yeon Ryu attended Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea, where she pursued a degree in Sports Business, graduating in 2013. Importantly, while she was a full-time professional golfer on the LPGA Tour and LPGA of Korea Tour, she completed her university degree through distance learning and part-time studies, demonstrating her commitment to education alongside her athletic career.
10. What has So Yeon Ryu done since retiring from professional golf?
Since retiring from professional golf in 2024, So Yeon Ryu has remained actively involved in the golf world. She has worked as a consultant for Hanwha during the International Crown golf tournament and has transitioned into television broadcasting, providing commentary for LPGA Tour events on international feeds. She has also been involved with the Korea Golf Association in improving the national golf program. Additionally, she has expressed keen interest in golf course architecture. Most significantly, she married Matthew Jung in December 2025, embarking on an exciting new chapter in her personal life beyond competitive golf.