Does the name Yealimi Noh ring a bell? If not, allow us to introduce this rising golfer. Two weeks ago, the California-born Noh celebrated her victory at the Founders Cup held at Bradenton Country Club. She registered this win as her first on the LPGA Tour after defeating former World No. 1 Jin Young Ko by four strokes. But has her performance always been this impressive? Not really.

She lost her LPGA card in 2023, only getting it back in 2024. Her 2024 season was mild. Her best result came with a 4th place finish at the 2024 Buick LPGA Shanghai, where she achieved a remarkable 18-under 270. Although she secured Top 10 spots three times in 2024, the rest of the year was moderate.

Clearly, Noh has faced many ups and downs in her career. This became the topic of discussion at No Laying Up when she sat down with Randy and Cody on February 20. The interview began with Randy asking Noh about her latest experience on the greens after her win at the Founders Cup. Noh seemed happy as she agreed that although it has been exciting, it has also been a tiring week. “…I am taking some days for rest, but I am celebrating with my friends and family. It’s been awesome.”

But it always wasn’t this sweet. In Noh’s words, “I wouldn’t have been in this position without those struggles. I mean, you know what they say? All the bad times and experiences make you who you are. It’s true. I have learned so much over the last two years.” What exactly was she hinting at? Well, losing her LPGA Tour card two years ago, which ultimately resulted in limited playing opportunities.

But during this time, having a support system can make a difference. Noh credits her caddie, coach, family, and friends for this. When she was asked if any pro supported her through these years, she added a surprising name to the list. Who, you ask? Well, let Noh answer it for you: “Yeah, the girls on the tour are so great. There are so many good mentors. I talked to a lot of players. I mean, Lilia, too. I wasn’t very close to her before; we hadn’t spent much time together. She was so inspiring. When I saw her go on the run she did, I was like, ‘wow,’ I mean after the same struggles…”

Continuing her comments about Vu, Noh called her an inspiration and said that identifying herself with golfers, who had gone through similar challenges helped her a lot during the events. Having never expected something like that to happen to her, Noh found comfort in idolizing Vu as she too had experienced the same issue in 2019.

So, how has the 2025 season been for the golfer?

The 2025 season looks promising for Yealimi Noh

Let’s look at her performance on the Founders Cup stage. The battle was fierce, with Jin Young Ko briefly taking the lead on the 8th hole before Noh regained it with a birdie on the 13th. Noh extended her lead to three shots with another birdie on the 14th and Ko’s consecutive bogeys. Ultimately, Noh finished strong to win with a 3-under 68, thus claiming her maiden LPGA title.

After her win, an emotional Noh commented: “This means so much to me. I have really worked hard for the last few years and went through a lot of struggles. This means so much to me. I told myself 2025 is going to be my year. So this is the best way to start it.”

Additionally, Noh credited her parents for being her support system. In a heartfelt comment, she said, “Oh yeah, my parents are, I mean, they’re amazing. They’ve been with me like every single day, not only on the golf course, but my whole life, and they’ve sacrificed so much for me, and it’s amazing to have them both here and they… I mean, they have done so much for me.” Interestingly, her family attended the tournament to support her.

Currently, Noh is trying her luck at the Honda LPGA Thailand, where she is in the top 15, but it has only been the 2nd round. Noh has a score of -5 (70-69-139), currently ten strokes behind the leaders, Akie Iwai, Angel Yin and Jeeno Thitikul. With a promising start this 2025 season, we hope good luck to the golfer for this tournament as well.