Player Bio: So Yeon Ryu2020 U.S. Women's Open

Age: 30
Country: Republic of Korea
College: Yonsei University
Worldwide professional victories: 20 (6 on LPGA Tour)
Exempt status: 2011 U.S. Women’s Open champion; top 10 and ties from 2019 U.S. Women’s Open; 2017 winner of ANA Inspiration; top 75 in Rolex Rankings as of March 16

Ryu introduced herself to the world with a playoff victory over countrywoman Hee Kyung Seo in the 2011 U.S. Women’s Open at The Broadmoor. It was the first aggregate playoff in the championship’s history. Ryu forced the playoff by knocking her approach to 6 feet and making a birdie on the 72nd hole. Six years later, Ryu collected her second major championship in a sudden-death playoff over Lexi Thompson at the ANA Inspiration. While competing on the LPGA Tour, Ryu took classes at Yonsei University in her native Korea, graduating in 2013 with a degree in sports business. Ryu skipped the first three major championships of the 2020 season due to travel concerns. She has six top-five finishes in 10 U.S. Women’s Open starts.     

U.S. Women's Open Playing Record