Kim Min-sol eyes 4th win, earnings lead at OK Savings Bank Utman Open

'I rested well last week and recovered nicely' Seo Gyo-rim out with wrist injury, canceling anticipated rivalry showdown Kim Min-sol is setting her sights on reclaiming the KLPGA Tour's season earnings lead from same-age rival Seo Gyo-rim. Kim is among 120 players competing for the title at the OK Savings Bank Utman Open — the tour's 22nd event of the season — which carries a purse of 1 billion won ($728,000), with a first-place prize of 180 million won. The tournament runs Friday through Sunday at Adonis Country Club (par 72) in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province. The event traces its roots to the 2010 Rush & Cash Charity Classic, was rebranded the OK Savings Bank Park Se-ri Invitational from 2014 to 2022, then became the OK Financial Group Utman Open in 2023 before taking its current name in 2024. Kim is by far the most closely watched player heading into the week. A rookie on the KLPGA Tour this season, she has won three times — starting with the iM Financial Open in April, followed by the Mercedes-Benz Korea Women's Open and the McCall Mona Yongpyong Open in June. Kim's bid for a fourth title was narrowly denied last month when she lost to Seo in a playoff at the KLPGA Championship, finishing runner-up. That result handed Seo both the season earnings lead and the distinction of being the first player to reach four wins this season. Kim skipped the previous KG Ladies Open to manage a back complaint and has been focused on arriving at this week's event in top form. However, a much-anticipated head-to-head between the two rivals — dubbed the "Rim-Sol showdown" by fans — will not materialize, as Seo has withdrawn with a left wrist injury. Seo's absence opens the door for Kim to retake the earnings lead. Seo currently tops the money list with 1.32 billion won, while Kim sits second at 1.29 billion won — a gap of 35.14 million won. With Seo out of the field, Kim is well positioned to move back to the top of the earnings standings. A victory would also make her the first rookie in KLPGA history to win four times in a debut season. "Fatigue had been building as the tournaments kept coming, but I rested well last week and recovered nicely," Kim said. "My form and my feel for my shots are both in good shape. As an OK scholarship alumna, I really want to perform well here, but my goal is to stay focused on my own game and keep the momentum going." Last year's champion Bang Shin-sil also signaled her intent to defend the title. Bang, who has one win this season, said she wants to enjoy the week rather than feel weighed down by expectations. "Playing as the defending champion, I want to approach it with a positive mindset and have fun out there," she said. "My ball-striking has been coming around over the past week, so I'll be focused on picking up a second win this season." Also in the field is Shin Da-in, who successfully defended her title at the KG Ladies Open last week and is hoping to make it back-to-back victories.

Sept. 1, 2026

Woori Financial Capital hosts in-house billiards championship to build 'one-team' culture

Woori Financial Capital announced Tuesday that it has been holding the third Woori WON Wibis In-House Championship since August, with the final set for Thursday at its headquarters in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Now in its third year, the in-house tournament was launched to encourage natural interaction between headquarters staff and branch employees across the country — groups with limited day-to-day contact — and to strengthen organizational cohesion. The competition is open to any employee who wishes to participate and runs for about a month, progressing from divisional tournaments through preliminary rounds and a round of 16 before culminating in the final. CEO Ki Dong-ho will attend Thursday's final in person to present awards and encourage staff. Players from Woori Financial Capital's professional billiards team Woori WON Wibis — including Sroeng Piavi of Cambodia, Eom Sang-pil and Kang Min-gu — will also join employees on the day, serving as referees and holding autograph sessions among other events. "This billiards tournament is a precious opportunity for Woori Financial Capital employees across the country to communicate with one another and come together as one team," Ki said. "We will continue building a healthy and vibrant corporate culture so that the positive energy and vitality our employees gain can translate into warm, inclusive finance for our customers and differentiated financial services." Woori Financial Capital founded its professional billiards team, Woori Financial Capital Woori WON Wibis, in 2024. The team won the PBA Team League Gwangmyeong City Tour 2026-2027 in July, securing a postseason berth ahead of schedule.

Sept. 1, 2026

Samchully Group marks Seo Gyo-rim's 4th win with seaweed gift event

Samchully Group announced Tuesday that it will hold a Jidopyo seasoned seaweed giveaway at all SL&C dining brand stores through Monday to celebrate professional golfer Seo Gyo-rim's victory at the BC Card·Hankyung KLPGA Championship. Seo clinched her fourth win of the season — and her first career major title — in the tournament's final round on Aug. 23 at Pocheon Hills Country Club in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, finishing with a total score of 8-under-par 280. She sealed the victory with a birdie in a playoff against fellow professional Kim Min-sol. With the latest win, Samchully's sports team has combined for six victories this season alone. Backed by the group's support, its athletes have maintained a steady upward run throughout the season. To mark Seo's fourth win of the season, Samchully Group is running the Jidopyo seaweed giveaway at more than 80 stores nationwide across its dining brands, including Chai797, Chai Dimsum & Noodle Bar, Seorijae, Itamae Sushi, Housem and Bareun Meat Butcher Shop. Customers who spend 50,000 won ($36) or more during the event period will receive a gift set — one pack of Jidopyo traditional flake seaweed (17 grams) and one pack of three traditional table seaweed sheets — for every person at their table.

Sept. 1, 2026

Roberto Moreno named interim head coach of South Korea national football team

Spanish coach to lead six A-matches; Asian Cup role possible 'Deep understanding of Korean football, tactical alternatives' Roberto Moreno, a 48-year-old Spanish coach, has been appointed interim head coach of the South Korea national football team, tasked with leading the side through six A-matches in the second half of the year. The Korea Football Association held its seventh board meeting of the year Tuesday at Korea Football Park in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, and approved Moreno's appointment. Along with Moreno, six members of his coaching staff were confirmed. Moreno takes charge of a post left vacant after Hong Myung-bo resigned following South Korea's group-stage elimination at the 2026 North and Central America World Cup. He will lead the team through four A-matches in September and October and two more in November. "Given the significant public attention to procedural legitimacy and fairness in this appointment, we made considerable efforts to comply with the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee's standards," said Hyun Young-min, chair of the KFA's national team performance enhancement committee. Hyun added that Moreno had impressed the committee with his deep understanding of Korean football and his ability to offer diverse tactical alternatives. "We expect Moreno and his staff, selected through a rigorous process, to play their part in revitalizing the national team's atmosphere and improving its performances," he said. Moreno's contract runs through Nov. 27, but an extension is possible. The KFA included a clause allowing his tenure to be extended through the 2027 Asian Cup, set for January next year, depending on results over the six matches. The arrangement appears to reflect the possibility that electing a new KFA president could be delayed, depending on the pace of governance reform in Korean football. Appointing a permanent head coach while the presidency remains vacant would be difficult. Should Moreno perform well, his chances of being named permanent head coach would grow considerably. He has prior experience making that transition — he was promoted from interim to permanent coach of the Spanish national team. A member of the coaching setup under Luis Enrique, who now manages Paris Saint-Germain, Moreno stepped in as interim coach of Spain in March 2019 when Enrique stepped away to care for his ill daughter. After guiding the side through three matches, Moreno was appointed permanent coach in June of that year, only to step down five months later when Enrique returned. Moreno served as assistant coach at FC Barcelona from 2014 to 2017. After leaving the Spanish national team setup, he went on to manage Monaco in France, Granada in Spain and Sochi in Russia. His entire coaching staff is also Spanish. Eduardo Docampo, who worked alongside Moreno at Sochi, joins as first assistant coach, supported by Jacinto Magriña, a specialist in analysis and training methodology; Víctor Bravo Desoto, who has managed clubs in Spain's lower divisions; Javier Chocarro, a physical coach with experience across major European leagues; and Nico Bosch, a goalkeeper coach with 10 years in La Liga. The KFA selected the interim coach through an open recruitment process for the first time, in line with national team selection and management regulations the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee revised in February. The board decided at a late-July meeting to fill the interim coaching role through open recruitment. A selection committee comprising some performance enhancement committee members and external evaluators reviewed applications, conducted online interviews, held in-person meetings and negotiated contract terms before finalizing the appointment last weekend. The final shortlist was reported to include Moreno alongside Domènec Torrent, Jesús Casas and Erwin Koeman.

Sept. 1, 2026

Yun I-na joins inaugural WTGL season as only South Korean player

Yun I-na will compete in the Women's Tech Golf League, a newly launched women's screen golf league known as the WTGL. The WTGL released the full player rosters Tuesday (Korean Standard Time) for the five teams competing in its inaugural season: the Atlanta Drive Golf Club, Boston Common Golf Club, Los Angeles Golf Club, Motor City Golf Club and New York Golf Club. Yun will represent the Boston Common Golf Club alongside Lottie Woad (England), Megan Khang (United States), Celine Boutier (France) and Iwai Chiji (Japan). "Screen golf is a huge part of golf culture in Korea — it's actually how I first got into the game," Yun said. "I started visiting indoor screen golf facilities with my father, and that's where I first developed a love for golf. The SoFi Center is a one-of-a-kind screen golf environment unlike anything else in the world. Competing in the WTGL's inaugural season feels like coming back to where it all began for me. I'm excited to share this experience with fans in Korea and around the world." On joining the Boston Common Golf Club specifically, Yun said she attended her first Major League Baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston last year and had a wonderful time. "I've been a Red Sox fan ever since," she said. "So joining the Boston Common Golf Club feels even more special and exciting. My teammates are all outstanding players. I'm looking forward to bringing together each of our different strengths and competing as a team." The full roster of 25 players includes World Golf Hall of Fame inductees, major champions, Solheim Cup veterans, legends of the game and rising next-generation stars. The league aims to showcase a new vision of women's team golf and draw new fans to the sport. Seven other Asia-Pacific golf stars have also confirmed their participation in the WTGL alongside Yun: Patty Tavatanakit (Thailand), the Iwai Akie-Chiji sisters (Japan), Lydia Ko (New Zealand), Minjee Lee (Australia), Yuka Saso (Japan) and Yin Ruoning (China). World No. 1 Nelly Korda (United States), however, will not participate at her own request. The five teams will begin competition in November at the SoFi Center, a state-of-the-art, technology-driven venue dedicated to the WTGL, located in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

Sept. 1, 2026

Im Sung-jae confirmed for Genesis Championship in October

PGA Tour star seeks to become first two-time winner at event marking its 10th anniversary PGA Tour player Im Sung-jae has confirmed his entry in the Genesis Championship, to be held Oct. 22-25 at Ujeong Hills Country Club in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province. Competing for the second consecutive year, Im will chase what would be the tournament's first-ever two-time title. The Genesis Championship holds special significance for Im, who is making his fourth appearance at the event this year. At his debut in 2019, he claimed his first professional victory anywhere, leaving a lasting impression on Korean fans. His record as the tournament's youngest champion — set at 21 years, six months and 13 days — still stands. He finished tied for second in his second appearance in 2023, and although he ended last year tied for 42nd, he had shared the lead through the second round, consistently delivering strong performances at the event. "The Genesis Championship is a special event where I won my first title on Korean soil," Im said. "I'm really looking forward to competing again in front of Korean fans at this meaningful stage as it celebrates its 10th anniversary." He added that he was determined to make up for last year's disappointment. "I'll make sure to get enough rest and put in solid preparation over the remaining time, so I can play without regrets and deliver a good result," he said. Now in its 10th year, the Genesis Championship is South Korea's largest international professional golf tournament, co-sanctioned by the KPGA Tour and the DP World Tour with a total purse of $4 million. Past champions include inaugural winner Kim Seung-hyeok as well as Lee Tae-hee, Im Sung-jae, Kim Tae-hoon, Lee Jae-kyeong, Kim Young-su, Park Sang-hyeon, An Byeong-hun and Lee Jeong-hwan — a roll call of leading figures in Korean golf. This year's field will feature 126 top players from South Korea and abroad, including the top 36 in the Genesis Points standings. The tournament serves as the final event of the "Back 9" stretch of the DP World Tour's Race to Dubai and the last qualifying opportunity for the season-ending playoff, making for an especially competitive field. The winner will receive $680,000 in prize money along with a Genesis vehicle and a two-year playing exemption on both the KPGA Tour and the DP World Tour from 2027 through 2028. The champion will also earn 1,300 Genesis Points and 835 Race to Dubai ranking points. In addition, the highest-finishing KPGA Tour player in the field will receive an invitation to the Genesis Scottish Open, co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour in 2027. With the tournament carrying significant weight in the late-season Genesis Points race, fierce competition is expected among KPGA Tour players chasing the Genesis Award and a top-10 finish in the Genesis Points standings, both of which come with bonus prize money and other benefits.

Sept. 1, 2026

Im Sung-jae to compete at Genesis Championship next month

Im Sung-jae will compete in the Genesis Championship, a co-sanctioned event between the KPGA Tour and the DP World Tour, next month. The tournament organizing committee announced Tuesday that Im will tee up at the Genesis Championship, held over four days beginning Oct. 22 at Woojeong Hills Country Club in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, where he will bid to become the first multiple winner in the event's history. The Genesis Championship holds special significance for Im, who is set to make his fourth appearance this year. At his debut in 2019, he claimed his first career victory and set the tournament record as its youngest-ever champion at 21 years, six months and 13 days. He finished as a co-runner-up in his second appearance in 2023. "The Genesis Championship is a special tournament where I won my first title on Korean soil," Im said. "I am very much looking forward to competing again before home fans at this meaningful stage as it marks the event's 10th anniversary." "I finished tied for 42nd at Woojeong Hills last year and was left with a lot of regret, so I will make the most of the remaining time to rest and train properly and give everything I have to play without any regrets and achieve a good result," he added. Marking its 10th anniversary this year, the Genesis Championship is co-sanctioned by the KPGA Tour and the DP World Tour and carries a purse of $4 million. Last year, Lee Jeong-hwan claimed the title, defeating a strong field of European players. The Genesis Championship serves as the final event of the "Back 9" stretch of the DP World Tour's Race to Dubai and the last qualifying opportunity for the season-ending playoff, making for an especially competitive field. The winner will receive $680,000 along with a Genesis vehicle and two years of playing rights on both the KPGA Tour and the DP World Tour. In addition, the highest-finishing KPGA Tour player in the field will earn a spot in the Genesis Scottish Open, co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour in 2027. Tickets and event information are available through the official ticketing platform Unitix. A second-round early-bird promotion offering daily tickets at a 15 percent discount runs through Sept. 30, with weekend passes, full-tournament passes, and limited-edition packages that include souvenirs such as umbrellas, chairs and tumblers also on sale.

Sept. 1, 2026

Korean Sport & Olympic Committee to draft measures against sexual harassment in women's soccer

The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee said Tuesday it will convene its gender equality committee and develop measures to prevent a recurrence of incidents like the sexual harassment controversy involving Ji So-yun of Suwon FC Women, after a referee allegedly made a demeaning remark toward her during a WK League match. The committee plans to meet soon to review the incident and seek advice on strengthening gender-sensitivity training for athletes, coaches, referees and other sports officials, as well as on institutional reforms to prevent similar cases. The incident occurred Friday at Suwon Sports Complex during a match between Suwon FC Women and Seoul City Hall. According to the club, Ji protested a rough foul by an opposing player early in the game, at which point the referee allegedly told her, in effect, that she was being overly sensitive from the start and asked whether she was menstruating. Speaking after the match, Ji said she had been objecting to repeated hard fouls by the opposing team. "While I was making my appeal, the remark was made beside me," she said. "When I heard it, I said, 'What did you just say? That kind of comment is grounds for disciplinary action' — and then I was the one who got a yellow card." Suwon FC Women has formally raised the matter with the Korea Women's Football Federation, which has launched a fact-finding investigation. Korean Sport & Olympic Committee President Yoo Seung-min said the rights and dignity of athletes must be respected under all circumstances on the field of play, and that no athlete should be hurt by gender-based bias or inappropriate remarks. "We are taking this matter very seriously and will listen carefully to the voices from the field to ensure it leads to meaningful improvement," he said.

Sept. 1, 2026

Kim Si-woo, Tom Kim secure automatic Presidents Cup berths; Im Sung-jae likely captain's pick

Kim Si-woo and Tom Kim have both secured automatic berths on the International team for the 2026 Presidents Cup. The two South Korean stars clinched their spots on merit, setting up what promises to be an exciting Presidents Cup for Korean golf fans. Im Sung-jae, who overcame an early-season injury to advance to the second round of the FedEx Cup Playoffs, will now wait to see whether International team captain Geoff Ogilvy selects him as one of his captain's picks. According to the Presidents Cup organizing committee's official announcement Tuesday, Kim Si-woo tops the International team points standings and enters the event as the team's marquee player, currently ranked 13th in the world. He played in 24 tournaments this season, finishing runner-up three times and recording 11 top-10 finishes in what has been the best season of his career. Kim dramatically improved his putting — long considered his most glaring weakness — on his way to a world ranking of 13th. He also became the first Korean player to surpass $10 million in single-season earnings on the PGA Tour, earning his automatic Presidents Cup berth through sheer performance. The 2026 event will be Kim's fourth Presidents Cup appearance, following stints in 2017, 2022 and 2024. His career record stands at 6-5. At the 2022 edition he went 3-1, capping his week with a victory over American star Justin Thomas in Sunday singles play. Tom Kim qualified fifth in the International team standings. After enduring a prolonged slump since 2023, he revived his career by winning the Genesis Scottish Open in July and added a solo third-place finish at the US Open. He is expected to reprise his role as the team's energy catalyst. The 2026 Presidents Cup will be Tom Kim's third consecutive appearance, dating back to 2022. His career record is 3-1-5. At his previous two Presidents Cups he served as a spark plug for the team and proved himself a clutch performer when points were on the line. The six automatic qualifiers for the International team are Kim Si-woo (1st), Ryan Fox of New Zealand (2nd), The Open champion, Hideki Matsuyama of Japan (3rd), Min Woo Lee of Australia (4th), Tom Kim (5th) and Adam Scott (6th). Im Sung-jae, who had been widely expected to qualify automatically, fell to ninth in the final standings and narrowly missed out. Still, his determined run through the playoffs after a serious right wrist injury early in the season has drawn widespread praise. The consensus is that captain Ogilvy will include him among his six captain's picks, given Im's consistently vital contributions in past Presidents Cups. The 2026 Presidents Cup will be held in September at Medinah Country Club in Medinah, Illinois. On the American side, Scottie Scheffler, Cameron Young, Wyndham Clark, Sam Burns, Russell Henley and Collin Morikawa all earned automatic berths by finishing in the top six of the US team standings. The United States leads the all-time series 13-1-1.

Sept. 1, 2026

Yoon I-na joins WTGL inaugural season as full 25-player rosters revealed

25 players across 5 teams, combining for 112 LPGA Tour wins; first season set to open in Florida in November and December South Korean golfer Yoon I-na has been named to the player lineup of the Women's Team Golf League (WTGL), a new team-based competition launched through a partnership between TMRW Sports and the LPGA Tour. WTGL unveiled the full 25-player rosters for all five inaugural-season teams on Tuesday (Korean Standard Time): Atlanta Drive GC, Boston Common Golf, Los Angeles Golf Club, Motor City Golf Club and New York Golf Club. The rosters break down by team as follows: Atlanta Drive GC — Charley Hull, Nataliya Guseva, Andrea Lee, Minjee Lee and Yuka Saso; Boston Common Golf — Lottie Woad, Megan Khang, Céline Boutier, Chiji Iwai and Yoon I-na; Los Angeles Golf Club — Michelle Wie West, Alison Lee, Gaby Lopez, Chiara Romero and Aki Iwai; Motor City Golf Club — Jeeno Thitikul, Lexi Thompson, Ruoning Yin, Brooke Henderson and Albane Valenzuela; New York Golf Club — Lydia Ko, Danielle Kang, Rose Zhang, Linn Grant and Jana Melichova. Yoon, who finished in the top five at both the Chevron Championship and the KPMG Women's PGA Championship this season, will compete for Boston Common Golf alongside world No. 6 Lottie Woad, Megan Khang, Céline Boutier — a seven-time LPGA Tour winner — and Chiji Iwai. "My interest in golf first began when I visited an indoor screen golf facility with my father," Yoon said. "SoFi Center is a truly special screen golf environment unlike anything else in the world. Playing in the inaugural WTGL season feels like returning to where it all started for me. I'm excited to share this experience with fans in Korea and around the world." On joining Boston Common Golf, she added: "Lottie, Megan, Céline and Chiji are all outstanding players. I look forward to bringing together each of our different strengths and competing as a team." The players are expected to showcase a new vision of women's team golf and attract new fans to the sport. Competition begins in November at SoFi Center, a state-of-the-art WTGL-dedicated venue in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Rufus Hack, president of golf at TMRW Sports, said WTGL would deliver "a thrilling new experience for women's golf, with teams made up of world-class LPGA Tour stars and the energy of fans filling SoFi Center." He added that with rosters now finalized, each team's identity and the rivalries between them would begin to take shape in earnest. The 25 players have combined for 112 LPGA Tour victories and 15 major championship titles, and eight of the top 15 players in the Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings are among them.

Sept. 1, 2026

Mizuno Korea launches limited-edition Chuseok RB MAX golf balls

Mizuno Korea announced Tuesday it will sell a limited-edition "Chuseok Illustration RB MAX Ball" through the Mizuno Golf official online store. The product is a seasonal limited edition of Mizuno's distance-focused RB MAX golf ball, featuring illustrations evoking the chuseok holiday spirit. It was designed as a gift for golfers among friends and loved ones during the holiday season. Sales run through Sept. 17, and an early-bird coupon offering a 20 percent discount will be available during that period. Each purchase comes with a dedicated gift band and shopping bag. Customers can also choose from 15 chuseok-themed illustration logo designs for free engraving on the balls. Additional perks are available based on purchase quantity — buyers of five dozen receive one extra dozen, while those who purchase 10 dozen receive a Mizuno travel organizer as a gift. The RB MAX ball at the heart of this limited edition is Mizuno's distance-specialized golf ball, the first in the golf industry to feature the company's new Axialflow dimple technology.

Sept. 1, 2026

Golfzon runs relay ESG campaigns with Lock&Lock, GoodNeighbors

Golfzon, a leading screen golf company, said Tuesday it has been consistently expanding employee-driven social contribution activities and eco-friendly campaigns to build a sustainable corporate culture and advance ESG management. The company joined a resource-circulation campaign by global home-and-living brand Lock&Lock in July, then partnered with GoodNeighbors in August on a meal-kit packaging volunteer drive for children at risk of food insecurity — continuing what it described as a sincere commitment to sharing across environmental and social causes. During the weeklong "Love for Planet" eco-friendly resource-circulation campaign held July 20 through July 27, employees voluntarily collected 273 discarded plastic airtight containers, which were processed into recycled raw materials and given new life as resources. Then, at the "Give Kids a Solid Meal" campaign held Aug. 20, employees gathered on-site to hand-pack meal kits for delivery to children in need. "It is meaningful that our employees shared the importance of everyday resource circulation and took direct part in eco-friendly practices," Golfzon CEO Park Kang-su said. He added that the company's four-year support for food-insecure children had grown beyond simple monetary donations into hands-on activities reflecting the genuine care of its employees. "Going forward, we will continue pursuing Golfzon's own authentic ESG campaigns to advance a management philosophy of coexistence with local communities and the environment," Park said.

Sept. 1, 2026

'Putin invited me': Sonnen shrugs off safety concerns over Russia visit

Former UFC contender previously criticized Dagestan wrestlers over steroid use UFC legend Chael Sonnen, 49, has shrugged off concerns about his personal safety ahead of a planned visit to Russia, which remains at war with Ukraine. The former UFC middleweight and light heavyweight title contender said in an interview that he will travel to Russia next week at the invitation of the Russian government to attend a wrestling event. Some have raised concerns that visiting Russia as an American carries serious risks, given the ongoing war with Ukraine and the resulting tensions between Moscow and Washington. Sonnen drew a line under those worries. "Of course I'll be careful over there. But Vladimir Putin invited me," he said. "Countries like Iran and Russia have their governments directly involved in wrestling events, and they treat athletes very well. So I don't think there will be any problem." His exact role at the wrestling event has not been disclosed. However, Sonnen's ties to the Russian wrestling world run deep. He has long spoken highly of the wrestling tradition in Russia and the former Soviet states, and has claimed he predicted more than a decade ago that Russian-born fighters would come to dominate the UFC. Sonnen also previously helped American wrestlers gain access to training in Russia. While the visit may appear unusual given the current geopolitical climate, his connection to Russian wrestling is nothing new. That said, Sonnen has not always been complimentary toward Russia. He once criticized doping among Russian athletes, saying: "The vast majority of coaches sent from Dagestan to the United States have failed. Why can't they develop American fighters the same way? The answer is steroids. That's the truth." Sonnen himself is no stranger to doping controversy. He tested positive in 2014 during his fighting career and acknowledged that he had violated the rules.

Sept. 1, 2026

'Would Topuria fight someone Usman's never faced?' — Hooker calls out high-risk matchup avoidance

Fighters reluctant to serve as debut opponent for hyped prospects, Hooker says New Zealander set to face Parnasse this weekend UFC lightweight Dan Hooker, 36, of New Zealand has spoken out about a growing trend of fighters avoiding high-risk matchups. The most talked-about fighter in the sport right now is Usman Nurmagomedov, the PFL champion who recently became a free agent. With Nurmagomedov publicly pushing for a move to the UFC and a signing widely considered likely, word has it that few fighters are eager to step up as his debut opponent — a reluctance attributed to his unblemished record and the lofty reputation he carries into any potential matchup. Hooker, who has fought a wide range of tough opponents at lightweight, shared his candid take in a recent interview with Submission Radio. "Do you think Ilia Topuria is going to take the risk of fighting someone who has never competed in the UFC?" he said. "No fighter is going to take that risk, even if there's a big reward." His point was that even the most confident fighters tend to avoid bouts where the downside far outweighs the upside. Hooker added that his own career reflects the same dynamic. "That's the same reason I ended up being Chandler's opponent," he said, "and it's the same with fighting Salahdine Parnasse now" — acknowledging that he has repeatedly accepted the matchups others turned down. Hooker lost to Michael Chandler when he served as the former Bellator champion's UFC debut opponent in 2021. He is now set to face Parnasse — who holds a 23-2 record — in the latter's UFC debut at UFC Fight Night in Paris, France, on Sunday. In both cases, few fighters had been willing to take the fight. MMA outlet MMA Sucka echoed Hooker's argument, noting that Topuria, after suffering the first professional loss of his career to Justin Gaethje at the UFC White House event, now needs to rebuild his path toward a title shot. "The last thing he wants in that situation is a fight against an unranked opponent," the outlet said. "The risk is high, and even a win does little to advance his career." Ironically, Hooker's remarks also expose his own precarious standing in the division. Fighters riding high can simply decline uncomfortable matchups. But those on losing streaks or outside the rankings have little grounds to say no — often grateful just to be offered conditions such as a preferred next opponent in exchange for accepting the fight, or a guarantee they will not be cut even if they lose. Hooker has gone 4-6 in his last 10 bouts and enters the Parnasse fight on a two-fight losing streak, his career clearly trending downward. Betting lines heavily favor Parnasse at -400 to -480, while Hooker is a significant underdog at +300 to +335. Whether Hooker once again smooths the path for a rising prospect or derails Parnasse's debut and revives his own career remains to be seen.

Sept. 1, 2026

Sports Ethics Center spent 7 months probing Gangwon FC chief before dismissing case

The Sports Ethics Center conducted a seven-month investigation into Gangwon FC chief Kim Byung-ji before dismissing the case, it has emerged. According to Yonhap, the Sports Ethics Center decided on Dec. 3 last year to reclassify Kim's status from "complainant" to "subject of investigation" and launched a formal probe. Kim was notified of the change in his status. The investigation centered on allegations that Kim had given preferential treatment to a sports agency where his son worked — directing players to sign with the agency and arranging for the club to pay excessive commissions alongside player contracts. The case originated when a media outlet reported the alleged irregularities, prompting Kim, who had maintained his innocence, to voluntarily file a self-report with the Sports Ethics Center requesting an investigation into himself. Under the direction of the investigation chief, the assigned investigator spent seven months on the case. The center conducted a comprehensive review of every player Gangwon FC signed during Kim's tenure and secured internal club documents related to the matter. The findings, however, never became public. After the investigator submitted the report, the Sports Ethics Center's deliberation committee — the body responsible for deciding whether to impose disciplinary action — voted to dismiss the case. In June, the deliberation committee ruled: "Regarding the intent of this complaint, the complaint naming the complainant himself as the subject of investigation is deemed not to fall within the scope of cases subject to Sports Ethics Center investigation as defined under Article 18-4 of the National Sports Promotion Act and related regulations. Accordingly, this complaint is dismissed." Meanwhile, it could not be confirmed what recommendation — dismissal or disciplinary action — the assigned investigator had included in the report submitted to the committee, Yonhap reported.

Aug. 31, 2026

50th Korean Women's Amateur Golf Championship tees off Tuesday

112 players, including Koo Min-ji, Kim Gyu-bin and Yang Yun-seo, to compete The national title tournament marks its 50th edition this year, with the competition set to be held in Daejeon. The Korea Golf Association's Kang Min-gu Cup 50th Korean Women's Amateur Golf Championship runs Tuesday through Friday at Yuseong Country Club (par 72, 6,688 yards) in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon. One of the KGA's eight national titles — alongside the Korea Open, Korea Women's Open and Korea Senior Open, among others — the tournament is contested over 72 holes of stroke play. A field of 112 players will compete. After the second round, the top 66 players (with countback applied) advance to the third and final rounds. The player with the lowest score in the final round wins. In the event of a tie, a sudden-death playoff begins at the 18th hole. Notable entrants include national team members Koo Min-ji (Korea National Sport University, first year), Kim Gyu-bin (Haksan Girls' High School, second year), Yang Yun-seo (Incheon Girls' High School Correspondence High School, third year) and Yoon Gyu-ri (Haksan Girls' High School, first year), as well as top-ranked players in the KGA ranking system: Kang Seo-yeon (Sinseong High School, second year), Kim Seo-a (Sinseong Middle School, second year), Moon A-rin (Daekyeong Culture Arts High School, second year), Hyeon Se-rin (Elite Open School Korea, second year) and Lee Si-eun (Namnyeong High School, second year). Lin Jie-en and Xie Ping-hua, sent by the Chinese Taipei Golf Association, will be chasing the tournament's first title by a foreign player. The entire course is played on foot. Cart transfers are available for the longer stretches between the 9th green and the 10th tee, and between the 18th green and the 1st tee. The top three finishers receive trophies and scholarships, while players finishing fourth through 10th receive scholarships. The funds are provided by Kim Hyo-joo, 31, the 2012 champion and a former national team member, as a gesture of gratitude to the late Honorary Chairman Kang Min-gu and the KGA. The championship, which began in 1976, is being held at Yuseong Country Club for the 27th consecutive year, a run stretching from the 24th edition in 2000 to this year's 50th. The tournament has produced many of South Korea's top women golfers, including Ko Jin-young, 31, Kim Sei-young, 33, Shin Ji-yai, 38, Ryu Hae-ran, 25, Yoon Yi-na, 23, Choi Hye-jin, 27, and Hwang Yu-min, 23.

Aug. 31, 2026

Shin Da-in defends KG Ladies title, credits new driver for distance gains

Team Bridgestone had plenty to celebrate at the KLPGA Tour's KG Ladies Open on Sunday at Turning Point Country Club in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, as Shin Da-in claimed the title and several of the team's players finished in the top 10. Shin sealed back-to-back KG Ladies titles with a final-round burst of five consecutive birdies, finishing with nine birdies overall for a 17-under-par total of 271. Entering the final round tied for the lead, she parred the first two holes before reeling off birdies on holes 3 through 7 to take sole possession of first place. Her composure under pressure proved equally impressive. After parring the par-4 8th, Shin ran into her first trouble at the par-5 9th — the last hole of the front nine — but limited the damage to a bogey and made no further mistakes. She held the top spot despite a birdie charge from playing partners Park Hye-jun and Yoo A-hyun and unpredictable weather throughout the round. "I practiced my wedge shots and putting a great deal," Shin said. "Switching to the Bridgestone Golf BX driver this year added about 15 meters to my distance compared to last year. The support from fans and my agency gave me a huge boost." The BX driver uses a technology called "Slipless Bite Milling," designed to maintain low-spin distance even in wet or adverse conditions. Team Bridgestone noted that four of the tournament's top-10 finishers — including champion Shin, title contender Yoo A-hyun, eagle-maker Ahn Jae-hee and Ji Han-sol — are under full-line equipment contracts with Bridgestone Golf, covering everything from drivers to balls.

Aug. 31, 2026

South Korea shines at 34th Korea-China-Japan Junior Games

The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee said Monday that South Korea achieved strong results at the 34th Korea-China-Japan Junior Comprehensive Games, held Aug. 23-29 in Saga Prefecture, Japan, sending a delegation of 245 athletes across 11 sports. The games, held in rotation among South Korea, China and Japan since 1993, took place this year across Saga Prefecture, including the cities of Saga, Ogi, Takeo and Tosu. In weightlifting, Park San-hae claimed first place in the men's 65-kilogram category with a total score of 271 kilograms, edging out his closest rival, China's Xiong Fenghui. His clean and jerk of 155 kilograms tied the Korean student record. In the women's +86-kilogram category, Kim Che-ryang swept all three titles — snatch (104 kg), clean and jerk (130 kg) and total score (234 kg) — to claim a triple crown. In track and field, Han Ji-hye set a personal best of 4 minutes 39.35 seconds in the 1,500 meters, while Kim Si-hu ran a personal best of 47.82 seconds in the 400 meters. Team sports also delivered strong performances: the women's volleyball and women's handball teams each won both of their matches against Japan and Saga, while the women's tennis team went undefeated across all three of its matches. "I am proud of our young athletes, who gave their all and strengthened the friendship among the three nations through sport," Korean Sport & Olympic Committee President Yoo Seung-min said. "We will continue to provide full support so that the next-generation athletes who will lead South Korea can build their international competitiveness." The 35th Korea-China-Japan Junior Comprehensive Games are scheduled to be held in 2027 in North Jeolla Province, South Korea.

Aug. 31, 2026

Lee Sang-hee claims first JGTO title after 13 years on Japan tour

Korean golfer fires bogey-free 65 to finish 23 under par; dedicates win to late father Lee Sang-hee, 34, claimed his first Japan Golf Tour Organization title on Sunday, 13 years after joining the circuit. Lee carded a bogey-free, seven-birdie 65 in the final round of the Sansan KBC Augusta — purse 100 million yen ($624,000) — at Keya Golf Club (par 72, 7,293 yards) in Itoshima, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. His total of 23-under-par 265 gave him a three-stroke victory over runner-up Hosono Yusaku of Japan, who finished at 20-under 268. The winner's share was 20 million yen. The victory was Lee's first on the JGTO since he began competing in Japan in 2013. It also ended a roughly nine-year title drought since his win at the 36th GS Caltex Maekyung Open in 2017 and marked his fifth professional victory overall. Lee topped the JGTO qualifying tournament in 2012 and has split his time between the Korean and Japanese tours since 2013. He consistently contended at the top level but had been unable to break through in Japan in particular, finishing runner-up eight times on the JGTO alone. At this same event in 2022, Lee finished at 15-under 273, one stroke behind Kawamoto Riki, to take runner-up honors. Returning to Keya Golf Club four years later, he erased that disappointment completely. Lee began the final round in sole second place, one stroke off the lead. He made three birdies on the front nine, then pulled away on the back nine with four more, including three consecutive birdies at holes 13 through 15, to seal the win. Lee is the first Korean player to win a JGTO-only event — one not co-sanctioned with the KPGA Tour — since Song Young-han triumphed at this same tournament in 2023. "I'm truly happy to win for the first time since my debut on the JGTO in 2013," Lee said after the round. "I had come so close so many times — eight runner-up finishes on this tour — so it feels like I've finally reaped the rewards." Lee also spoke of a promise he made to his late father. "After my father passed away in 2023, I vowed to show him a trophy," he said. "It means even more to me that I can now visit him with the winner's cup in hand. I want to keep this momentum going and keep adding titles. I'll do my best to deliver a good result at the upcoming 42nd Shinhan Donghae Open as well."

Aug. 31, 2026

Lee Jeong-ung, Lee Jin-kyung win Shab20 G Tour Super Match

Golfzon announced Monday that the team of Lee Jeong-ung and Lee Jin-kyung won the final of the Shab20 G Tour Super Match, a mixed-team screen golf competition held Saturday at the Golfzon Tower Seoul media studio. The tournament carried a total purse of 30 million won ($21,800), with 13 million won going to the winners. The quarterfinals were held across four rounds on Aug. 20 and Friday, and the semifinals took place earlier that day. Lee Jeong-ung and Lee Jin-kyung advanced to face the team of Kim Hong-taek and Yun Gyu-mi in the championship round. The final was played on Golfzon's "Haebi-chi Seoul" course, rated difficulty level 4, which features pronounced elevation changes on every hole and varied fairway contours, demanding smart course management to handle both tee shots and shifting pin positions. Trailing by one stroke at the turn, Lee Jeong-ung and Lee Jin-kyung seized the lead at the 12th hole when Lee Jeong-ung converted a difficult uphill birdie. The team kept the momentum going, adding six more birdies to finish at 10-under par and win by six strokes over Kim Hong-taek and Yun Gyu-mi. "My partner Lee Jeong-ung helped me stay relaxed, and I think that made all the difference," Lee Jin-kyung said. "I'm also grateful to Kim Hong-taek and Yun Gyu-mi for a great match." Lee Jeong-ung added, "I'm thrilled to have won such a meaningful title thanks to the great teamwork with Lee Jin-kyung, who trusted me completely throughout. I want to thank the staff and fans for their continued support."

Aug. 31, 2026