Three runner-up finishes, no LPGA title yet: Hye-Jin Choi's narrow miss in Korea

Hye-Jin Choi finished tied for second at the BMW Ladies Championship on October 25, sharing the spot with Haeran Ryu at Pine Beach Golf Links in South Korea. Her 16-under 272 was just one stroke behind Japan's Yuri Yoshida. The result represents Choi's third runner-up finish of the 2026 LPGA Tour season — and leaves the 27-year-old still searching for her first win on the circuit.

Choi closed with a 3-under 69. A bogey at the par-3 third briefly interrupted her momentum, but birdies at the sixth and eighth sent her out in 35. She made further gains at the 11th and 13th to reach 16 under and pull within one of the lead. She parred the final five holes, ending a round that featured four birdies, one bogey and 13 pars. One more birdie would have been enough to force a playoff, but it never came.

Her long game gave her plenty of chances. Official LPGA figures show she hit 12 of 14 fairways and 15 of 18 greens in regulation on Sunday, evidence of consistent ball-striking when the pressure was highest. Choi remained in contention throughout the closing stretch even as Yoshida moved ahead to secure her maiden LPGA title.

There is a broader pattern to Choi's season. She had already finished second alongside Hyo Joo Kim at the Dow Championship and runner-up on her own at the Buick LPGA Shanghai just one week earlier. The BMW result was her sixth top-10 finish of 2026, and she has made 18 cuts in 23 starts. LPGA statistics place her eighth on Tour in total strokes gained, at 1.51 strokes per round.

The runner-up finish moved Choi three positions higher in the Race to the CME Globe. It is another sign of a strong season, but also a reminder of how thin the margin can be between consistent contention and a breakthrough trophy. For Choi, the chase for a first LPGA title continues after another near miss at home.