In every golfer’s life, there needs to be a support system, one that cheers them on and off the course. Haeran Ryu’s life is no different. After playing incredibly well on the Korea LPGA Tour, the 23-year-old phenom moved to the LPGA Tour with hopes of making a name for herself on the American circuit.

And she did just that! Ryu was the 2023 LPGA Tour Rookie of the Year, and much of her success can be attributed to her parents. Born in Seoul, South Korea, Ryu has always been supported by her family. Although her parents rarely show their faces or reveal much about their lives, they have been a constant presence, whether traveling with Ryu to tournaments in America or cheering her on from South Korea.

After clinching five wins on the KLPGA Tour, the 23-year-old was fortunate to bag her maiden victory on the LPGA Tour last year. Ryu won the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G in a wire-to-wire fashion. At first, she wasn’t hopeful of a win, but after a few good shots, the trophy was hers. Crediting her parents, who were watching from Korea early in the morning, Ryu said, “It was like even earlier in the morning, but with my parents and the fan clubs, I think they were cheering me on and supporting me. I think thanks to them I was able to get it done this today and this week.”

As much as Ryu’s parents have been a defining factor in her career, the instant shift from a winless first half of the 2023 season to winning, in the end, could also be attributed to her caddie change, which has pushed Ryu to new limits and helped her perform better on the LPGA Tour.

Who is Haeran Ryu’s caddie?

In the first half of the 2023 season, Haeran Ryu employed Charles Ryan as her caddie. However, their camaraderie didn’t quite click, as Ryu consistently finished near the top but never quite secured a win. Consequently, the 23-year-old decided to change her bag man and signed up Martin Bozek in July 2023.

Bozek had previously caddied for Ayaka Furue and Ji Eun Hee. Growing up in Chicago, Bozek began caddying at the age of 13 and has never left the greens since. The veteran caddie has been on Ryu’s bag for over a year and celebrated his first win with her when she hoisted the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship trophy. Moreover, in the 2024 season, Bozek assisted Ryu in finishing in the top 10 eight times, including a runner-up finish at the Dana Open.

The two seem to share more than just a love of golf, as Ryu and Bozek are both avid baseball fans and enjoy watching the sport together. When not on the golf course or helping Ryu win big on the LPGA Tour, Bozek spends his time fishing or with his family. The pair is making long strides toward a second victory in the 2024 season, and it might come sooner than expected.