Lee So-mi Bio
Lee So-mi (Korean: 이소미), born on January 6, 1999, is a South Korean professional golfer who competes on both the LPGA of Korea Tour and the LPGA Tour. She turned professional in 2017 and built a strong résumé on her home circuit with multiple victories before earning her full card on the LPGA Tour in 2024. Known internationally by the alternate spelling Somi Lee, she has represented South Korea in amateur team competition and has become a consistent presence in major championships.
Standing 163 centimeters tall, Lee developed her game in South Korea and quickly transitioned from a decorated amateur into a tour-level competitor. Her career arc from regional amateur titles to the U.S.-based LPGA Tour has marked her as one of the steady South Korean players of her generation.
Early Life and Background
Lee So-mi was born in Wando, South Korea, a coastal region in the southern part of the Korean peninsula. Growing up in this area, she was introduced to golf at a young age, eventually pursuing the sport with increasing seriousness throughout her teenage years. Wando and the surrounding South Korean golf community provided a fertile training ground, a country widely recognized for producing top-tier golfers on both the men’s and women’s tours.
As an amateur, Lee quickly established herself as one of the promising young talents in South Korea. In 2017, she won the New South Wales Women’s Amateur Championship in Australia, a victory that signaled her ability to compete at an international amateur level. That same year, she finished as runner-up at the Australian Women’s Amateur and was part of the South Korean team that won the Queen Sirikit Cup, a prestigious international amateur team event.
Path to Professional Golf
Following her amateur success in 2017, Lee decided to turn professional and joined the LPGA of Korea Tour, the premier women’s golf circuit in South Korea. The transition to professional golf is demanding, and Lee used her early years on the Korean tour to refine her game against established players.
Her first professional victory came in 2020 at the Huencare Ladies Open, a breakthrough moment that confirmed her potential on the Korean circuit. Building on that confidence, she added two more wins in 2021 at the Dayouwinia MBN Ladies Open and the Lotte Rent A Car Ladies Open, establishing herself as a consistent contender on home soil.
Lee So-mi Career
Early Career (2017–2020)
After turning professional in 2017, Lee spent her first few seasons learning the demands of weekly professional competition on the LPGA of Korea Tour. She competed regularly, adjusted to the rhythm of tournament play, and steadily improved her results against an experienced field. Her perseverance was rewarded in 2020, when she captured her maiden professional title at the Huencare Ladies Open, a win that gave her the platform to chase bigger goals on the tour.
LPGA of Korea Tour Breakthrough (2020–2023)
Lee’s career gained real momentum in 2021, when she won twice on the LPGA of Korea Tour at the Dayouwinia MBN Ladies Open and the Lotte Rent A Car Ladies Open. These victories demonstrated that her 2020 success was not a one-off, and she became a regular name near the top of leaderboards in South Korea.
In 2022, Lee picked up two more titles on the Korean tour at the SK Networks Seoul Economics Ladies Championship and the S-Oil Championship. That same year, she made her U.S. Women’s Open debut after breaking into the top 75 of the Rolex Rankings, finishing tied for 44th in the championship. Her growing world ranking set the stage for her pursuit of an LPGA Tour card.
LPGA Tour Era (2024–Present)
Lee earned her LPGA Tour card by finishing tied for second at the 2023 LPGA Q-Series, a qualifying event that awards full status to top performers. She officially joined the LPGA Tour in 2024, beginning her first full season on the U.S.-based circuit and bringing her steady ball-striking and competitive temperament to a wider international stage.
In 2025, Lee continued her LPGA Tour campaign with a series of strong finishes. She opened the Black Desert Championship with a 6-under 66, briefly holding the lead before ultimately finishing tied for 18th. She later placed third at the 2025 Meijer LPGA Classic, finishing two strokes behind winner Carlota Ciganda, and was runner-up at the PIF Saudi Ladies International after leading for much of the event.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Lee’s career so far came at the 2023 LPGA Q-Series, where her tie for second earned her LPGA Tour membership for 2024. Her 2025 runner-up finish at the PIF Saudi Ladies International, where she led for a large portion of the tournament, signaled her readiness to contend for titles at the highest level. Her third-place result at the 2025 Meijer LPGA Classic further cemented her growing reputation on the LPGA Tour.
Lee So-mi Career Wins
Lee So-mi has compiled six professional victories across the LPGA of Korea Tour and the LPGA Tour. Five of her wins came on the LPGA of Korea Tour, and she has also recorded strong finishes in major championships and full-field events on the LPGA Tour.
LPGA of Korea Tour Highlights
Lee’s first professional win came at the 2020 Huencare Ladies Open, the breakthrough that launched her Korean tour success. She added two victories in 2021 at the Dayouwinia MBN Ladies Open and the Lotte Rent A Car Ladies Open, then captured two more titles in 2022 at the SK Networks Seoul Economics Ladies Championship and the S-Oil Championship. These five wins on home soil built the foundation for her move to the LPGA Tour.
Other Wins and Performances
As an amateur in 2017, Lee won the New South Wales Women’s Amateur Championship, was runner-up at the Australian Women’s Amateur, and helped South Korea win the Queen Sirikit Cup team event. These amateur results foreshadowed her professional trajectory and demonstrated her ability to perform in international competition.
Lee So-mi Family
Personal Life
Lee So-mi maintains a private personal life, and limited public information is available about her family and relationships. She is from Wando, South Korea, and has built her professional career in golf while representing her home country at both amateur and professional levels.
2025 Season Performance
Lee So-mi’s 2025 season on the LPGA Tour has featured several highlight performances despite a challenging off-course circumstance, as she competed without a sponsor for part of the year, using an “empty hat” on her bag. Her play, however, remained strong, and she posted multiple top finishes in high-profile events.
She opened the Black Desert Championship with a 6-under 66, briefly leading the field before settling for a tie for 18th place. She later finished runner-up at the PIF Saudi Ladies International after holding the lead for much of the tournament, a result that underscored her competitiveness in international fields. In June, she added a third-place finish at the 2025 Meijer LPGA Classic, two strokes behind Carlota Ciganda.
With multiple top finishes already in 2025 and growing comfort on American venues, Lee has positioned herself as a rising presence on the LPGA Tour. Her mix of accurate ball-striking and composure under pressure suggests she will continue to be a factor in upcoming events and major championships.