Updated: January, 2024

SO MI LEE

The Facts

Birthday: January 6, 1999
Rookie Year on LPGA: 2024
Rookie Year on KLPGA: 2019
Best LPGA Finish:
T-4th (2019 BMW Championship)
Best LPGA Major Finish: T-33rd (2023 US Women's Open)
Height: 5' 4"
2024 LPGA Status: Category 14
Sponsors: Daebang Construction
How's her English?: Unknown
Road to the LPGA: Finished t-2nd at 2023 Q-Series to earn category 14 status on the 2024 LPGA.

Capsule Bio

So Mi Lee turned pro in 2018 and qualified for the KLPGA in 2019. She was one of the great class of 2019 rookies that included Ayean Cho, Hyun Kyung Park, Hee Jeong Lim and Seung Yeon Lee. So Mi had a great rookie year, finishing 14th on the money list with nearly 439 million won earned. She had two runner-up finishes that year, including at the Hite Cup, the year's fourth Major. But perhaps her most impressive week came at the joint LPGA/KLPGA event, the BMW Championship. She got into contention, eventually finishing 4th.

So Mi still hadn't won, but in 2020 she righted that problem. It was a tough season, with the Covid pandemic causing the cancelation of a large part of the season. But when action started again in late May, Lee quickly showed she was ready to play. She finished 2nd in just her fourth event of the year. She had several more great results, including a third, but that initial win still seemed to elude her.

Finally, in late October, she broke through with her first career win at the Huen Care Women's Open. In all, she collected seven top tens and made 402 million won, good for tenth on the money list.

Lee's trajectory continued upwards in 2021. That year she made over 758 million won, which put her 6th on the money list. She won twice: at the Dayouwinia Women's Open and at the Lotte Rent-a-Car Open, the year's first event. She accumulated a second, two thirds and two fourths as well, and a total of 12 top tens. In just three years, Lee has established herself as one of the brightest young stars on tour.

2022 was another powerhouse year for So Mi. She had a gaggle of top tens, though it took her until the end of the year to get into the win column. Then she won back to back events: the SK Networks Ladies Classic and the S-OIL Championship. She had a second, a third and two fourths in addition, and a total of eleven top tens. She earned over 736 million won for the year, good for 7th on the money list. She even had a chance to play as her good friend Ayean Cho's caddie at one tournament!

So Mi has talked about wanting to play on the LPGA soon. She managed a fifth at the LPGA's Lotte Championship in Hawaii in April. She also played her first Major, the US Women's Open, finishing tied for 44th there. In February 2023, she was invited to play the Saudi Ladies International; she ended up tied for 24th there.

In 2023, So Mi was not able to get a win on the KLPGA, but did have a very strong season. She had two runner up finishes and four thirds, with 12 total top tens. She made a hair less than 742 million won, 7th on the money list. She also played in two Majors on the LPGA: the Evian, where she missed the cut, and the US Women's Open at Pebble Beach, where she finished tied for 33rd.

In the Fall, So Mi went to LPGA Q-Series. She was near the top of the leaderboard much of the week. On the second to last day she led the tournament, but she had a weak final round and fell to a tie for 2nd. Still, that earned her category 14 status for the 2024 season. She has told the press that she is working extra hard to prepare to have a great year on tour. Best of luck to her!

Back to Other Players Page