Finally Noh-ing Victory, Yealimi Noh Victorious at LPGA Founders

Thomas Detry isn't the only player who snagged their first tour win over the weekend. After six years and over 100 starts on the LPGA, Yealimi Noh finally got a taste of sweet victory. It wasn’t an easy cruise to the trophy, she had former world No.1 Jin Young Ko chasing her down, but the 23-year-old pulled out a long awaited win finishing four strokes clear of the rest of the field.

Noh's performance shouldn't be overlooked. In the final round she fired a bogey-free 68, while leading the field in in birdies-made (24 to be exact) and greens in regulation (an impressive 67/72). Perhaps the most iconic part of Noh's game was the lowkey putting clinic she put on—with a broomstick at that. Joining the likes of Akshay Bhatia, Will Zalatoris, and most recently Minjee Lee, Noh has been team broomstick putter for the last three seasons.

And what a difference a day (and a new putter) makes. Since adding the long putter to her bag, Noh has shot up the rankings for putts per GIR. Going from 130th in 2022 and 102nd in 2023 to being inside the top-30 at the end of last season. It's been a slow and steady improvement but one that's certainly paying off.

I got the chance to see Noh's stroke up close at last year's Founders Cup tournament in May. I was paired with Noh during the Wednesday pro-am and more than few things about the San Fransisco-native's game have stuck with me ever since.

She's long.

Averaging roughly between 260-275 yards off the tee, Noh gets after it, and her ball flight is insanely pretty. (I can recall her playing an extremely high baby push draw.) Her motion is rather effortless as well, never appearing to be trying or swinging too hard.

Her putting speed is on point.

As I mentioned before, 2024 was her best year on tour in terms of her putting, when I teed it up with her she had been more consistent in her stroke. I was deeply intrigued watching Noh and her caddie make reads on different greens and getting a real sense of green speeds. Most pros have fake golf holes that throw around the greens that they'll putt to, but Noh seemed less concerned about specific lines and slopes of the greens, and more wrapped up in reading with her feet and utilizing her senses to assist her green reading.

She's particular about all of her equipment.

The putter isn't the only thing Noh will switch up—she's also rather particular about her apparel and footwear. Back in 2023, she was one of the first pro ambassadors for Malbon before they started making headlines with JDay and Charley Hull.

Noh then made the switch back to Korean brand Anew Golf for 2024 (she had previously worn the brand in 2022). At last year's Founders she told me that she liked the feminine silhouettes and offerings of Anew, while still keeping things very technical and performance focused. Malbon really hadn't pushed their women's line until late 2023 into the start of 2024.

The new season brought another new move for this year—Noh is now repping J.Lindeberg. The two announced the partnership ahead of last week's tournament.

But she's remained a Nike girl when it comes to footwear. We chatted about her affinity for the Air Jordan 1 Lows—which are flat enough for her green reading technique. This week it looked as though she was rocking an older version of the Nike Air Zoom Infinity Tours.

She's a bit quiet and reserved, but Noh opened up throughout our time together. She has a wealth of knowledge about the game, but she isn't one dimensional. We chatted about fashion, pop culture, the best eats in New York and so much more. She's another incredible young talent in the women's game that just needed that little break through. With a victory notch in her belt, she's a great player to watch for the rest of season.

I worked really hard the past 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.

Yealimi Noh on the 18th green after winning the 2025 Founders Cup

More Scenes from Founders

Other Takeaways from Founders

Jin Young Ko

The runner up also put on quite the display over the weekend. Playing 95 consecutive holes without a bogey. Ko has been dealing with lingering injuries over the last few seasons, but she seems to be getting back to her old form with back-to-back top-5 finishes to start the season.

Nelly Korda

Bradenton native Nelly Korda played in front of her hometown crowd this week and ended with a T-7 finish. Korda will sit out the next three tour stops in Asia to rest and train.

Lexi Thompson

Thompson was back in action last week and made the most of it with a T-13 finish. The now 30 year old will be playing a limited schedule this season, including two majors.

Megan Khang

Megan Khang finished solo third at 16-under overall, her best finish and first top-five finish on Tour since August at the Women’s Scottish Open. And per her Instagram, Khang will also be taking some time away from competition. The first LPGA major is the Chevron Championship in April.