Challenging Victory at Bermuda Championship, Todd 'Title Defense', Stenson and Bae Sang-moon Join
[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] It is the 'Bermuda expedition' of Lee Kyung-hoon (29, CJ Logistics).
On the night of the 29th (Korean time), at the Bermuda Southampton Port Royal Golf Club (par 71, 6,828 yards), the PGA Tour Bermuda Championship (total prize money $4 million) will be held, aiming to target a 'niche market.' The 'special match' World Golf Championships (WGC) HSBC Champions, scheduled for the same period, was canceled due to the impact of COVID-19, but since all the 'top rankers' have taken a break, the competition for the championship is easier.
It is the first time since COVID-19 that galleries are allowed to enter. The PGA Tour was suspended in March due to the spread of COVID-19 and resumed from the Charles Schwab Challenge in June with 'no spectators.' After seven months, 500 people are allowed per day. Lee Kyung-hoon was the gold medalist in the golf team event at the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games. He moved to Japan and made a strong impression by winning twice at the 2012 Nagashima Shigeo and 2015 Honma Tour World Cup.
In 2016 and 2017, he built a golden tower by winning the 'national title' Korean Open consecutively. In 2018, he advanced to the PGA Tour for the 2018/2019 season as 5th in the Korn Ferry (2nd tier) Tour money rankings, entering the 'top 10' twice in 30 tournaments, and maintained his seed with a FedEx Cup ranking of 97th in the 2019/2020 season. In the 2021 season, he has participated in four tournaments so far, with three 'cut offs,' showing somewhat poor performance. His best result was a tie for 46th at last month's Sanderson Farms Championship.
Above all, recovering his shaky 'iron shots' and clutch putting ability is key. Brandon Todd (USA) is defending his title. He is the player who made a 9-under par on the final day last year to complete a 4-stroke comeback victory. He achieved his second win in five years since the 2014 Byron Nelson and reached his third career win two weeks later at the Mayakoba Golf Classic. He also set the course record (9-under par 62) and tournament record (24-under par 260).
In the 2020/2021 season, he finished tied for 23rd at the US Open, tied for 52nd at The CJ Cup, and tied for 47th at the Zozo Championship. He is determined to show the true nature of an 'early birdie' on the 'promised land.' The champion group includes Henrik Stenson (Sweden), Danny Willett (England), Jason Dufner, Stewart Cink (both USA), and Padraig Harrington (Ireland). Korea is represented by Bae Sang-moon (34). It is his first tournament in a month since tying for 28th at last month's Corales Puntacana Resort.
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