Noh's Sudden Explosion Wins Founders Cup Title At Bradenton CC
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by Scoop Malinowski
Against all odds, Yealimi Noh caught fire and exploded the best golf of her career on the back nine on Sunday to overcome elite veteran champion Jin Young Ko.
The 23-year-old Noh turned a one-shot deficit into a three-shot lead in the span of two holes, playing a twosome with Ko to take control of the tournament. With a four-shot lead on Ko on the last three holes, Noh cruised to her long-overdue first LPGA victory in the Founders Cup at Bradenton Country Club.
Entering the final round Sunday tied with Ko, Noh, from Concord, California, showed no signs of nerves or tension other than a couple of errant long putts. In fact, she saved her best for when it mattered most, finishing the last day with a bogey-free, 3-under 68 for a four-day total of 21-under 263. Noh made her last bogey of the week on her final hole of Friday’s second round. Then she vaulted into the lead on Saturday with a 63.
This is Noh's sixth season on the LPGA Tour, and this Founder's Cup was her 111th career start and first tournament of 2025. At last year's LPGA tournament at Bradenton Country Club (called the Drive On Championship), Noh finished tied for 23rd.
But what a difference a year can make. Finally the patience and perseverance have paid off for Noh.
“I always knew it would happen, and it was a matter of time. I was like... When and why isn’t it coming? A lot of my peers and girls around my age are just coming in at the same time, getting their wins. I always was like, I know I can do it, but when is it coming?” Noh said at her press conference.
I asked Noh's caddy, Tyler Ekenberg, if he felt any premonition that this elusive first LPGA victory would happen this week for Noh.
"She worked really hard in the off-season. It was a long time coming," said Ekenberg. "She changed all her clubs from last year except the putter. I think this will open the floodgates for more titles."
Noh had switched to the unorthodox "broomstick" putter after 2023 for 2024, a decision she said helped to restore her confidence.
“I was really struggling with my putting in 2023. Switching to the broomstick gave me back my confidence, got my shots back, just boosted my confidence,” Noh said.
The drama of the final round did not follow the typical script. Usually, the younger player with zero titles does not manage to step up and keep her cool and outplay a savvy veteran like Ko, who just happens to be a 15-time LPGA tournament winner - with two major championships in her pocket.
Ko endured the loss with good spirits. “I had bogey today. I mean, I don’t care about winning,” the 29-year-old said. “I just want to continue bogey-free rounds until maybe Thailand or Singapore (future stops on LPGA Tour).
"I did my best, I think, and I had a great week,” said Ko, who has earned over $13.8 million in her career.
Noh earned $300,000 for this Founders Cup Bradenton title, which increases her career total earnings to $2,595,537. After the Noh and Ko show, Megan Khang finished one shot behind Ko for third place. Miyu Yamashita, Hannah Green, and Jin Hee Im tied for fourth at 13 under.
The LPGA's No. 1 player and hometown hero Nelly Korda, who won the Drive On Championship tournament on this course last year (in a thrilling sudden death playoff vs Lydia Ko), closed with a 71 and finished nine shots back. Korda's win a year ago at Bradenton Country Club sparked her to win six more titles, for an astounding seven titles overall in 2024.
But a new star was born this week on the LPGA Tour.
“Just having a lot of better results and getting my confidence back and contending a few times last season (she had five top ten finishes in 2024) really helped me carry that out through the winter and just really prepare for this week,” Noh said. “(I) just felt really ready — this was going to be my year and week.”
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