Women's golf star Kim Min-sol has a chance to put the finishing touch on the fierce "Sol-Rim Showdown" that has unfolded throughout this season.

Kim is challenging to secure the prize money title early at the 20th S-OIL Championship on the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour, which opens on October 29 at Elysian Jeju Country Club in Jeju City.

With only two tournaments remaining in this season's KLPGA Tour including this event, Seo Kyo-rim, who has been fiercely competing with Kim for titles in various categories, has decided not to participate in this tournament due to an injury.

An official from Crowning, Seo's management agency, stated, "Seo is suffering from pain in her right rib. She decided to skip this tournament to compete in the tour championship with in peak condition."

"She plans to focus on rest and recovery during the remaining period until the final tournament," the official added.

Born in 2006, Kim and Seo have continued the so-called "Sol-Rim Showdown" by fiercely competing for major titles this season.

Kim has recorded 3 wins, 4 runner-up finishes, and 2 third-place finishes this season, ranking second in multiple wins, first in prize money (1,590,079,428 won), second in the grand prize points (525 points), and second in scoring average (70.7895 strokes).

Seo has posted 4 wins, 1 runner-up finish, and 2 third-place finishes, placing first in multiple wins, second in prize money (1,413,216,000 won), first in grand prize points (563 points), and first in scoring average (70.6405 strokes).

The landscape of the major title race could change significantly depending on the results of this tournament.

If Kim wins this tournament, she will tie for first in multiple wins and take sole possession of the lead in both prize money and grand prize points.

Particularly in the prize money category, adding the winner's prize of 180 million won would allow her to lock up the prize money title early, regardless of the outcome of the season's final tournament, the Daebo HausD Championship (winner's prize of 300 million won).

Kim is also challenging a new KLPGA Tour history.

If she finishes in sole 20th place or higher in this tournament, she will surpass 1.6 billion won in single-season prize money for the first time in KLPGA Tour history.

Kim said, "I am grateful just for the fact that I am competing in major title categories until the very end of the season," adding, "Rather than excessively obsessing over records or titles, I want to focus on my own play just as I have done so far."


She resolved, "Since there are not many matches left in the season, I don't want to lose my concentration until the end, and I want to do my best to play without regrets."

Defending champion Ko Ji-won aims for her second consecutive tournament victory, her fourth career win, and her second win of the season.

As a native of Jeju Island, Ko showed strong performances on Jeju courses last year, claiming both of her wins in tournaments held in her hometown of Jeju.

Ko said, "I want to carry on the good energy and play enjoyably in this tournament as well," adding, "I worried a lot because my putting wasn't working well in the second half of the season, but since the last tournament, playing with a mindset of enjoying it has actually heightened my concentration."

Ma Seo-young, who claimed her first career victory at the preceding Iceberg Golf · Seoul Shinmun Open, aims for consecutive tournament wins.

She stated, "I spent happy times receiving many congratulations after my victory, and I am excited because it is my first time participating in a tournament as a champion," adding, "I prepared for the tournament just like usual. My condition is good, so I will do my best to achieve a top-tier result."

A nail-biting survival battle among players to secure seeding rights for the 2027 regular tour will also unfold in this tournament.

The KLPGA Tour grants seeding rights for the next regular tour down to the top 60 players in the prize money rankings.

Furthermore, only the top 60 players in prize money can compete in the season's final tournament, the Daebo HausD Championship, making this tournament virtually the last chance to secure seeding rights.

If players drop outside the top 60 after finishing this tournament, they must face a fierce battle in the 2027 Regular Tour Seeding Qualifying Tournament.

It is also a crucial tournament for players ranked around 80th.

This is because players ranked from 61st to 80th receive the benefit of being exempted from the preliminary rounds of the seeding tournament.

Ma Da-som, the winner of this tournament in 2024, is currently lingering at 61st in the prize money rankings, forcing her into a desperate battle to secure her seeding rights.

(Photo: Provided by KLPGA Tour, Yonhap News)