[2020 Newstart16] 'Youngest Champ' Kim Juhyung "This Time, Challenging the PGA Tour~"

Rising to World Ranking 92 Led by Gunsan CC Open Victory, 'PGA Championship Invitation', Major Debut Announcement

'Youngest Champion in Korean Tour' Kim Joo-hyung is now challenging a PGA Tour major. Photo by KPGA

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] "The ultimate goal is the PGA Tour."

The ambitious aspiration of '18-year-old young gun' Kim Joo-hyung (18, CJ Logistics). He left early for the United States on the 21st to participate in the PGA Championship (total prize money $11 million), which opens on the 7th of next month (Korean time) at Harding Park Golf Course near San Francisco, California. He considered the schedule requiring a two-week self-quarantine due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Moreover, this tournament is the first major of the PGA Tour season.

Kim Joo-hyung caused a sensation by winning the Asian (APGA) Tour Panasonic Open last November at just 17 years old. Born in Seoul, he moved to China at the age of two and later lived in the Philippines, Australia, and Thailand. This explains his proficiency in various languages such as Chinese, English, and Thai. Interestingly, he learned Korean through TV dramas. This year, with the APGA Tour suspended due to COVID-19, he planned to focus on the Korean Professional Golfers' Association (KPGA).

He made a smooth landing by finishing runner-up at the 2020 season’s second event, Woosung Comprehensive Construction Aramir CC Busan Gyeongnam Open, qualifying as a top-ranked player in the world rankings. He made a dramatic eagle on the 18th hole (par 5) of the final 4th round to force a playoff but lost to Lee Ji-hoon730 (34) who made a winning birdie on the first playoff hole, leaving some regret. It is noteworthy that Kim Joo-hyung immediately avenged this by winning the KPGA Gunsan CC Open on the 12th.

At 18 years and 21 days old, he became the youngest winner on the Korean Tour, breaking Lee Sang-hee’s (28) record of 19 years, 6 months, and 10 days set at the 2011 NH Nonghyup Open. With this victory, Kim Joo-hyung rose from 113th to 92nd in the world rankings and received an invitation to a major. Returning to Korea means another two weeks of self-quarantine, which is a significant opportunity cost. However, he said, "That time is not wasted at all," and expressed his fighting spirit, saying, "Majors are tournaments that not just anyone can enter."

For Kim Joo-hyung, standing on the same stage as world stars like the 'Returned Golf Emperor' Tiger Woods (USA) and Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) is meaningful in itself. He introduced his plan, saying, "First, I will gather various information such as course strategies while practicing rounds with Im Sung-jae hyung." He raised expectations by saying, "I don’t mind finishing last," and "Just gauging how good my skills are in a major is valuable enough."