[2020 New Start①] No Seung-yeol "The Return of a True Man"

Returning to PGA Tour After Military Service, Physique Ready, 'Comeback Match' at American Express on the 16th

No Seung-yeol will return to the 2020 PGA Tour after completing his military service.

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] "The return of the real man."

In 2020, the Year of the White Rat, 'Gyeongja Year (庚子年)', there are players dreaming of a new world. They are rookies who have secured their first tour cards after challenging the 'Big League' or sweating it out on the second-tier tour. The fierce survival competition has already begun at the winter camp. Asia Economy Newspaper is running a series called [2020 New Start]. The first story is about No Seung-yeol (29), who is returning to the PGA Tour this year after completing his military service.

No Seung-yeol started golf at the age of 8 and was already a national representative at just 13. At 16, he declared turning professional in 2007, but was blocked by the Korean Professional Golfers' Association (KPGA) age restriction and turned to the Asian (APGA) Tour. It is remarkable that he immediately won at Media China in 2008. In 2010, he also conquered the European Tour's Maybank Malaysian Open. In 2011, he passed the Qualifying (Q) School and moved to the United States in 2012.

2014 was the highlight. With his victory at the Zurich Classic in April, he became the fourth Korean PGA Tour champion after K.J. Choi (50, SK Telecom), Yang Yong-eun (48), and Bae Sang-moon (34). He also set a record as the youngest winner at 22 years and 11 months. He enlisted in November 2017 and served as a full-time reservist for 1 year and 8 months, being discharged in August last year. The PGA Tour has deferred No Seung-yeol’s status, allowing him to participate in 26 upcoming tournaments.

It is interesting that No Seung-yeol made it to the third round in both Korean Tour events last year: tied 45th at the Shinhan Donghae Open in September and tied 6th at the Genesis Open in November. This shows no sign of the two-year gap affecting his game. His driving distance has actually increased from an average of 295 yards to 303 yards, more than 10 yards longer. He expressed confidence, saying, "After discharge, I focused on building my body, increasing my weight from 74 kg to 80 kg," and "there is definitely a different weight behind my ball striking."

He is currently tuning his competitive shot sense in Palm Springs, California. His goal is to perfect his draw shot. No Seung-yeol explained, "I had difficulties with my tee shots on the Korean Tour," and "I am focusing on improving accuracy in preparation for the PGA Tour." Short game training is a given. His father, No Gu-hyeon, who has watched him since childhood, will join him on the 14th to provide strong support.

No Seung-yeol’s PGA Tour comeback event is the American Express (total prize money $6.7 million), opening on the 16th at the Stadium Course (par 72) in La Quinta, California. This stage gained the spotlight last year when Adam Long (USA), ranked 417th in the world, won his first career title at the Desert Classic. No Seung-yeol said, "I like the Stadium Course," and added, "I will take a gamble early in the season," promising, "I will deliver news of a victory as soon as possible."