[At Clubhouse] "Back-to-Back MK Open Wins" Lee Tae-hee: "The Driving Force Is Body Conditioning"

After Marriage in 2016, 'Seungseung Janggu', Driving Distance and Putting Practice, Secrets to Prime in 30s "Seeing My Two Sons Gives Me Energy"

'Maekyung Open Champ' Lee Taehee expressed strong confidence, saying, "Golf is so much fun," and "Now I can win against anyone."

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] "I have gained confidence."

Lee Tae-hee (36) successfully defended his title for the first time in the history of this tournament, which was established in 1982, by winning the Maekyung Open on the 23rd of last month. His achievement is even more valuable this year in the Korean Professional Golfers' Association (KPGA) Korean Tour, where a 'young gun storm' is blowing with champions like 'Gunsan CC Champ' Kim Joo-hyung (18, CJ Logistics) and 'KPGA Championship Champ' Kim Sung-hyun (22, Golfzon). In a phone interview with Asia Economy Newspaper on the 1st, he revealed his hunter instinct, saying, "I have developed the mindset that I can win every tournament."

▲ "Distance and Putting as the Winning Moves" = Lee Tae-hee is in his mid-30s. While his rich experience is an advantage, competing against players in their 20s is not easy. Above all, distance was a problem. During the off-season, he focused on building a body optimized for golf. Lee Tae-hee, who "appropriately adjusted muscle mass and fat," said, "My swing gained power, and my driving distance increased," adding, "There is no reason to fall behind the younger players." His average driving distance ranks 47th (291.2 yards).

His head speed was about 115 miles per hour last year, but this year it has increased by 6 to 7 miles. He can reach up to 122 miles per hour. "This speed is comparable to that of PGA Tour players," he explained, "With increased distance, managing the game has become easier." He also further honed his putting, which is his strength. By holding his head and keeping his hands low, he improved consistency. In fact, his putting count during the Maekyung Open rounds did not exceed 26.

Lee Tae-hee is holding his two sons and taking a commemorative photo right after winning the Maekyung Open for the second consecutive time.

▲ "With the Strength of Family" = Although he debuted in 2006, he is a late bloomer star who won his first title at the 2015 NEPS Heritage. Since then, he has added three more wins, reaching his prime in his 30s. This year, he ranks 2nd in prize money (191.72 million KRW), 2nd in the Order of Merit (1711 points), 5th in average score (68.82 strokes), 12th in greens in regulation (75.82%), 3rd in average birdies (4.69), and 8th in average putts (1.72). Especially after marrying Kwon Bo-min, who worked as a manager at a sports management company in 2016, his career has flourished.

He is a 'dad golfer' with two sons. When he won two titles in 2018, his first child was 100 days old, and when he won three titles last year, his second child was on the way. During his consecutive Maekyung Open wins, his whole family accompanied him to the tournament venue. "My wife works in golf-related fields, so she understands players' psychology and routines well," he proudly said. He added, "Seeing my sons gives me strength," and analyzed, "Although my training volume has slightly decreased since becoming a father, I have become mentally stronger."

▲ "Still Hungry" = Although he is having his best year, he is not satisfied. He is determined to achieve good results in the remaining tournaments of the second half. "I want to win more," he said, "I will focus on multiple wins." Last year, he secured full status on the European Tour by finishing 3rd in prize money on the Asian (APGA) Tour. This year, the European Tour was disrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, granting players with status the right to compete next year as well.

He learned a lot while playing on the Asian Tour last year. "Playing overseas made me realize I was lacking in every aspect," he said, "I also learned know-how in course management." This year, he plans to dominate the domestic stage and ambitiously challenge the European stage next year. "If the COVID-19 situation settles and quarantine periods are lifted, I plan to play in Europe next year," he said, "It will be an opportunity to get motivated again on a new stage."