[2020 New Start⑪] Wang Jeonghun "European 3-Win Champ Power~"

Secured 4th Consecutive Season Seed with Three Late-Season Top 10 Finishes, Practicing Short Game in Bundang "I Will Deliver Results"

Wang Jeong-hoon is waiting to resume the tour after becoming the first Korean player to secure a European Tour card for four consecutive years.

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] "3-win champ power."

Wang Jeong-hoon (25) became the first Korean player to secure a European Tour card for four consecutive years. It is interesting that he dramatically retained his card by showing strong finishing power with three top-10 finishes in the last five tournaments last year. In a phone interview with Asia Economy Newspaper on the 7th, he said, "It is even more regrettable that the tour was suspended due to the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) just as I was gaining momentum at the Oman Open and Qatar Masters in March."

Wang Jeong-hoon is the player who won the 2017 Qatar Masters and became the second fastest 3-win champion since the "Returned Golf Emperor" Tiger Woods (1999, 12 events). He joined the European Tour in 2016 and achieved this in just 29 events. He also set a remarkable record as the third youngest 3-win champion (21 years and 144 days), following Matteo Manassero (Italy, 3 wins at age 19) and Seve Ballesteros (Spain, 3 wins at age 20), who passed away in 2011.

Wang Jeong-hoon gained international experience from a young age, winning the Philippine Amateur Championship in 2011 while attending an international school in the Philippines. After playing on the China Professional Golf Association (CPGA) Tour in 2012, he advanced to the Asian Professional Golfers Association (APGA) Tour in 2014. The highlight came in 2016. In May, he won the Hassan II Trophy after a playoff against Nacho Elvira (Spain), instantly joining the ranks of European Tour champions, and then swept the Mauritius Open for back-to-back wins.

In August, he represented Korea alongside An Byeong-hoon (29, CJ Logistics) at the Rio Olympics in Brazil. Unfortunately, Wang Jeong-hoon was sidelined by viral meningitis. The grueling schedule across Asia, Europe, the United States, and Brazil took its toll. After returning home, he lost 10 kg in three weeks and was hospitalized three times, enduring many hardships. Fortunately, he made a successful comeback by winning the Qatar Masters the following year.

He has been frustrated by a lack of notable results over the past two years. He is currently regaining his winning shot form with a tie for 28th place at the Qatar Masters in March. Wang Jeong-hoon said, "Through consistent physical training, I increased my average driving distance from 283.5 yards last year to 296 yards." He also expressed confidence, saying, "I returned home in mid-March and am currently staying at my home in Bundang while practicing short game at the Namseoul practice range. I will do my best to achieve results as soon as the tour resumes."