[Korean Tour Review] 'Teenage Young Gun' Kim Juhyung "Sweeps All Titles"... Kim Bio "Spectacular Return"

Kim Juhyung Becomes Youngest Triple Crown Winner, Kim Bio Revives with Final Victory Amid 'Finger Gesture Controversy', Kim Dong-eun Wins Rookie of the Year

'Teenage young gun' Kim Juhyung has become the youngest triple crown winner on the KPGA Korean Tour.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist] ‘Triple Crown’.

The power of ‘teenage young gun’ Kim Joo-hyung (19, CJ Logistics). He has become the youngest ever to achieve the KPGA Korean Tour money title (754.94 million KRW), Player of the Year award (5540.56 points), and lowest scoring average (69.16 strokes) ? a ‘youngest triple crown winner’. The ‘prodigal son’ Kim Bi-o (31, Hoban Construction) made a spectacular comeback by winning the final event of the 2021 season, the LG Signature Players Championship, which concluded on the 7th, while Kim Dong-eun (24) secured the Rookie of the Year title, marking him as a next-generation star.

Kim Joo-hyung is a player who won the Asian (APGA) Tour Panasonic Open in November 2019 at just 17 years old. Due to the APGA Tour suspension caused by COVID-19 last year, he competed on the domestic stage and successfully landed with a 2nd place finish at the July Woosung Construction Aramir CC Busan Gyeongnam Open, where he participated as a top-ranked world player. He lost in a playoff against Lee Ji-hoon (35), leaving a bittersweet feeling. One week later, he immediately set a new milestone as the youngest champion at the KPGA Gunsan CC Open.

It is noteworthy that Kim Joo-hyung played only three KPGA Open events before moving to the U.S. to build experience on the PGA Tour. His power was once again demonstrated with a win at the SK Telecom Open in June. He is the first KPGA player to win twice as a teenager. In 14 tournaments, he competed for the title every time, with one win and three runner-up finishes, and from September, he challenged the big leagues by participating in the PGA Tour’s The CJ Cup and the Korn Ferry (second-tier) Tour Qualifying Tournament (QT).

The runner-up finish at the LG Signature was the highlight. Overcoming a 294.46 point gap with Park Sang-hyun (38, Dong-A Pharmaceutical), he finally completed the last puzzle. The generous spoils include a five-year tour card, a 100 million KRW bonus, and a Genesis car. Various ‘youngest’ titles were attached to him. He broke the records of Kim Kyung-tae (then 21) as money title winner in 2007 and Lee Sang-hee (20) as Player of the Year in 2012. The triple crown was also achieved for the first time in 12 years since Bae Sang-moon (35) in 2009. He vowed, “I will definitely advance to the PGA Tour next year.”

Seo Yo-seop (25, DB Insurance) secured 2nd place in money rankings (585.58 million KRW). He joined the major champions by winning the KPGA Championship in August and earned his second win of the season at the Shinhan Donghae Open in September. Park Sang-hyun bowed his head as runner-up in Player of the Year by a narrow margin of 0.54 points (5535.02 points). Although he enjoyed victories at the July Woosung Construction Aramir CC Busan Gyeongnam Open and the September DGB Financial Group Irvine Open, he only finished tied for 8th at the LG Signature, falling short by ‘2%’.

Kim Bi-o made a spectacular comeback by winning the final event of the 2021 Korean Tour season, the LG Signature Players Championship.

Kim Bi-o’s revival is another newsworthy story. In September 2019, during his victory at the DGB Financial Group Volvik Daegu Gyeongbuk Open, he received a severe penalty of a three-year suspension for making a middle finger gesture. On the 16th hole (par 4) tee shot on the final day, he topped the ball due to the camera shutter sound, and in frustration, raised his middle finger to the gallery, which sparked criticism. He returned last July after a special pardon. After winning again 2 years and 2 months later, he expressed, “I am still reflecting on my actions,” and vowed, “I will repay the fans with a more mature attitude.”