'2-Win Champion' Kim Bi-o: "This Time the Target is a Major, The Open Ticket is a Bonus"... Lee Jun-seok 'Title Defense'

‘National Title’ 3 Wins at Korea Open: Park Sang-hyun, Shin Sang-hoon, Park Eun-shin, Jang Hee-min, Yang Ji-ho and the ‘Champ Squad’ All Out

'Korea's No. 1' Kim Bi-o (left) and 'veteran' Park Sang-hyun will engage in a 'full-scale battle' at the Korean Open. Photo by KPGA

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] "This time, the target is a major."

‘Domestic No. 1’ Kim Bi-o (32, Hoban Construction) is challenging the ‘national title.’ The Kolon Korean Open (total prize money 1.35 billion KRW), held on the 23rd at Woongjeong Hills Golf Club in Cheonan, Chungnam (par 71, 7,326 yards), is the battleground. In just four recent tournaments, including last month's Maekyung Open and the SK Telecom Open on the 5th, he has claimed two victories, leading the Korean Professional Golfers' Association (KPGA) in prize money (626.81 million KRW), points for the Order of Merit (2,946 points), and lowest average score (68.86 strokes), all showing a soaring performance.

Kim Bi-o is a player who became the ‘youngest domestic winner’ at the Johnny Walker Open in August 2010 and rose to the top of the money list with back-to-back wins at the Maekyung Open and SK Telecom Open in May 2012. It is regrettable that after attempting the PGA Tour Qualifying School in December 2010 and moving to the U.S. in 2011, he failed to maintain his tour card. He struggled through the Korn Ferry Tour (second-tier) in 2012 and 2013 before ultimately returning to the Korean Tour in 2014.

He made a comeback with a win at the Gunsan CC Jeonbuk Open in April 2019, but faced a major setback with a three-year suspension for making a finger gesture during the Daegu Gyeongbuk Open in September. After the KPGA granted a pardon in July 2020, he revived once again by winning the LG Signature last November. This year, he already has two wins and is poised to reach the ‘third major victory.’ The winner’s prize of 450 million KRW and the possibility of becoming the first player in KPGA history to surpass 1 billion KRW in a single season are on the line. The ticket to the final major of the PGA Tour, The Open Championship, in July is an added bonus.

Defending champion Lee Jun-seok has entered the Korean Open to defend his title. Photo by KPGA

Defending champion Lee Joon-seok (Australia) is a player to watch. Last year, he led from the first day and achieved a ‘wire-to-wire’ victory, and he has a special story as he lives in Cheonan and uses Woongjeong Hills as his home course. Notably, he secured a one-stroke come-from-behind win at the Hana Bank Invitational, which ended on the 19th, just before defending his title. He has clearly completed his ‘mock exam’ and is aiming for back-to-back wins for the first time in six years since Lee Kyung-hoon (31, CJ Logistics) in 2016.

Opening tournament champion Park Sang-hyun (39, Dong-A Pharmaceutical) is another strong contender. He has shown strength at Woongjeong Hills with a runner-up finish in 2018, tied 14th in 2019, and 7th in 2021. KPGA Championship champion Shin Sang-hoon (24) is chasing a rare feat of sweeping two majors. Currently second in prize money (337.57 million KRW), the 450 million KRW prize is a direct boost to his bid for first place in the money list. The ‘Match King’ Park Eun-shin (32), Jang Hee-min (20), Yang Ji-ho (33), and other ‘champion troops’ have all gathered for this event.