These days, golf fans are happy with their eyes. ‘Baby Bear’ Lim Seong-jae (26, CJ Logistics) participated in the Korea Professional Golf (KPGA) Korean Tour after 3 years and 7 months and won a come-from-behind championship by 5 strokes, and ‘Awl’ Jin-young Ko (28, Solaire) also played in the U.S. There were plenty of stories, such as winning the LPGA Tour by overturning by 4 strokes. Kim Si-woo (28, CJ Logistics) also won runner-up by one stroke on the US Professional Golf (PGA) Tour, and on the Korean Women’s Professional Golf (KLPGA) Tour, Bang Sin-sil토스카지노 (19, KB Financial Group), who hit a long shot of 300 yards, is a large rookie. He appears and grabs the attention of fans.
Golf fans’ eyes are likely to enjoy this week as well. The ‘reversal warriors’ are looking for fans in the US and Korea. Choi Gyeong-ju (53, SK Telecom), a “Korean tank”, will compete in a tournament organized by a sponsor, and Yang Yong-eun (51), a “Korean tiger”, will compete in a PGA Tour major tournament beating Tiger Woods. Attention is focusing on what effect the return of the old star, who is the ‘pioneer’ of Korean men’s golf, will have on young stars.
Yang Yong-eun, the first Korean to win a PGA Tour major. EPA Yonhap News
Yang Yong-eun, who plays on the PGA Champions Tour, will participate as a winner in the PGA Championship (total prize money of 15 million dollars), which opens at Oak Hill Country Club (par 70, 7394 yards) in Rochester, New York, on the 19th (Korean time). Having defeated Tiger Woods in 2009 and becoming the first Korean to become a major PGA Tour king, he will stand on the stage as the winner of all time. He is less powerful than younger players, but expects to show off his old age with his skill.
Korean big leaguers who are challenging for the major title with Yang Yong-eun are Lim Seong-jae, Kim Si-woo, Kim Joo-hyung (21, Nike), and Lee Gyeong-hun (34, CJ Logistics). Im Seong-jae won the Korean Tour Woori Financial Group Championship, which ended on the 14th, overturning his 5 stroke inferiority. He said, “I am tired, but I go to major tournaments with great energy. After 3 years and 7 months, he is confident that he will play a good game using the energy of winning two consecutive Korean tours as a stepping stone.”
Im Seong-jae smiles brightly after winning the Woori Financial Group Championship. Photo courtesy | KPGA
Kim Si-woo, who finished runner-up by one stroke at AT&T Byron Nelson, also expressed anticipation, saying, “I will be able to show a good appearance by gaining confidence ahead of the major tournament.” Dubbed ‘Little Tiger’, Kim Joo-hyung recently met world star Son Heung-min and received a lot of energy. Since they are players who have won the PGA Tour, attention is drawn to whether they will win a major title following Yang Yong-eun.
Choi Kyung-ju, participating in the SK Telecom Open. Photo courtesy | KPGA
On the Korean Tour, you can meet Choi Kyung-ju, who is competing with juniors after a long time. At the SK Telecom Open (total prize money of 1.3 billion won), which opens at the Pinx Golf Club (par 71, 7236 yards) in Seogwipo, Jeju on the 18th, it is expected to show off the shot of the ‘pioneer’.
In particular, the matchup on the first day draws attention. Choi Kyung-joo, who won the SK Telecom Open career with three wins, was drawn into a group with Jung Chan-min (24, CJ), who is imprinting his presence as ‘Korea’s Yon-Ram’, and ‘defending champion’ Kim Bio (33, Hoban Construction). Although his driving distance is inferior to that of his juniors, his iron shot and short game are still evaluated as top-notch. As the score differs from detailed play, it seems highly likely that he will teach Korean Tour stars how to survive on the PGA Tour with their whole body.
Jung Chan-min, a long hitter with superpowers. Photo courtesy | KPGA
Of course, the terrifying long hitting show of Jeong Chan-min and Kim Bio is enough to attract the attention of golf fans. Chang-min Jung set the record for the average driving distance of 317.11 yards last year, but Bio Kim ranked first with an average driving distance of 337.06 yards this season. As the average flight distance of 330 yards is about 300m, attention is drawn to whether Choi Kyung-joo’s shoulders will not be strained in the long-distance show that will embellish the Pinx GC.