"18-year-old Young Gun Kim Juhyung's Dream: Toward Higher Goals"

Youngest Korean Tour Champion Chooses PGA Tour's 'Dirt Road' Over 'Flower Road,' Endures COVID-19 Quarantine on Ongoing U.S. Expedition

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] "An investment for the future."

The '18-year-old young gun' Kim Joo-hyung (CJ Logisticsㆍphoto) is the youngest champion in Korean Professional Golf Association (KPGA) history. He won the Korean Tour Gunsan CC Open (total prize money 500 million KRW) last July. At 18 years and 21 days old, he broke Lee Sang-hee's (28) record as the youngest winner at the 2011 NH Nonghyup Open (19 years, 6 months, and 10 days), while also shortening Kim Kyung-tae's (34) record for the shortest time from joining the tour to winning (4 months, 3 days) by 109 days to 3 months and 17 days. It is interesting that he has not appeared on the tour since then.

Kim Joo-hyung is the next-generation prospect who 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 is why he is fluent in various languages including Chinese, English, and Thai. This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic causing the APGA Tour to be suspended, he planned to focus on the Korean Tour.

He successfully made a smooth landing by finishing second at the Woosung Construction Aramir CC Busan Gyeongnam Open, entering as a top-ranked player in the world rankings. On the final day, at the 18th hole (par 5), he made an eagle to create a dramatic playoff but lost to Lee Ji-hoon730 (34), leaving a bittersweet taste. A week later, he immediately avenged this by winning the KPGA Gunsan CC Open. His world ranking soared to 92nd, earning him the incredible prize of an invitation to the PGA Championship.

The PGA Championship is, moreover, a major on the U.S. Professional Golfers' Association (PGA) Tour. Kim Joo-hyung then traveled to the U.S., enduring a grueling quarantine period of two weeks there and another two weeks in Korea. "Majors are tournaments that not just anyone can enter," he said, burning with determination, "so the time is not wasted." The result was a 'cut off,' but this experience became a stepping stone for the next stage. Upon returning to Korea, he worked hard to refine his precise short game.

It is noteworthy that Kim Joo-hyung went back to the U.S. and made it to the main event, finishing tied for 67th at the Safeway Open, the opening tournament of the 2020/2021 season, on the 14th. This week, he will fly to the Dominican Republic to challenge the Corales Punta Cana Resort & Club Championship (total prize money 4 million USD), which opens on the night of the 24th at Corales Golf Course (par 72, 7,666 yards). Unlike the previous two tournaments, this is a 'B-level match' where world stars take a break.

Among the world's top 50 players, only Henrik Stenson (Sweden), ranked 43rd, is participating. Last year, veteran Graeme McDowell (Northern Ireland) won his fourth career title after a gap of 3 years and 5 months. For Kim Joo-hyung, this is rather an opportunity to pull off a surprise victory. "The PGA Tour courses are longer than other tours, and the rough, bunkers, and pin placements are definitely more challenging," he said, adding with confidence, "I am improving little by little by gaining experience and compensating for my weaknesses."