Settled
Kim Hyo-joo chases third straight title at Aramco Korea Championship
In short
Kim Hyo-joo will play the Aramco Korea Championship at New Korea Country Club in Goyang from Oct. 8, seeking a third consecutive win at the Ladies European Tour event. The tournament carries a $2 million purse and is part of the PIF Global Series, backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. Kim, who has four wins this season across the LPGA and KLPGA tours, said the course demands accuracy, consistency and patience.
Why it matters
The event is a Ladies European Tour stop in South Korea funded through Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, drawing a field that mixes LPGA, KLPGA and LET players. A third straight win would give Kim Hyo-joo four titles this year and a rare three wins in South Korea in a single season while playing mainly on the LPGA Tour.
Key facts
- Kim Hyo-joo will compete in the Aramco Korea Championship, held over four days from Oct. 8 at New Korea Country Club (par 72) in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. [ 2 , 3 ]
- She is aiming for a third consecutive title at the event, after wins in 2024 and 2025. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The tournament has a total purse of $2 million and is one of the PIF Global Series events run by the LET with support from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Kim has four wins this season: the LPGA Founders Cup and Ford Championship in March, the KLPGA NH Investment & Securities Ladies Championship in May and the Lotte Open in July. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Kim said the course requires accuracy, consistency and patience, and that she would give everything for a third straight win. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The field includes Park Sung-hyun, Lee Jeong-eun, Danielle Kang, Alison Lee and Carlota Ciganda. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Kim said she feels a different energy when playing in front of domestic fans, and her fan club plans to attend the tournament to support her. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Kim Hyo-joo is playing the Aramco Korea Championship in South Korea and is attempting a third consecutive win at the event. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The tournament is at New Korea Country Club in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, starting Oct. 8, with a $2 million purse, and is part of the PIF Global Series backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Kim won the event in 2024 and 2025, and the tournament has been held at the same New Korea Country Club for three years running since 2024. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Kim said through the tournament that the course requires accuracy, consistency and patience, and that she would give everything for a third straight win. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The field includes Park Sung-hyun, Lee Jeong-eun, Danielle Kang, Alison Lee and Carlota Ciganda. [ 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- The result of the tournament and whether Kim Hyo-joo completes the three-peat. The documents were published before the event starts and give no outcome.
- Details of the full field beyond the players named. Yonhap lists Olivia Cowan and Seoul Economic Daily lists Yamashita Miyu, and neither outlet gives a complete entry list.
- Who hosts the event and how the PIF funding is structured. The documents describe PIF support for the series in general terms only.
What local media are saying
Business mediaKukmin Ilbo covered the event in a headline framing Kim Hyo-joo's attempt at a third straight Aramco Championship title as a record bid, with no article text available. Seoul Economic Daily gave a fuller preview, counting her four wins this season, quoting her on the energy of playing before domestic fans, noting her fan club plans to attend and listing international entrants including Yamashita Miyu.
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Official sourcesYonhap gave the fullest account, setting out the tournament dates, venue, purse and PIF Global Series status, listing Kim's 2026 wins across the LPGA and KLPGA tours, her comments through the organizing committee and the wider field including Olivia Cowan.
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Timeline, local time
- Kukmin Ilbo publishes a headline on Kim Hyo-joo's attempt at a third straight Aramco Championship title. [ 1 ]
- Yonhap publishes a report on Kim's entry, the tournament details and her season results. [ 2 ]
- Seoul Economic Daily publishes its preview, adding Kim's comments on playing at home and her fan club's plans. [ 3 ]