'Youngest Korean PGA Winner' Kim Juhyung "The Reason I Could Speak English Fluently in Interviews"

"Promising Talent" Early Education in the Philippines, Australia, China, Thailand, Thriving on Southeast Asia Stage, Perfect Adaptation to New Culture

Kim Joo-hyung is walking to the awards ceremony to receive the trophy immediately after winning the Wyndham Championship. Greensboro, USA = Getty Images / Multibits

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] I was surprised.

This is the story of Kim Joo-hyung (20), who won his first career victory at the PGA Tour Wyndham Championship. In the winner's interview at the Wyndham Championship held on the 8th at Sedgefield Country Club (par 70) in Greensboro, North Carolina, USA, he demonstrated fluent English skills. He showed a sense of wit by adding clever humor to the reporter's questions. This was different from the usual scene where he would bring an interpreter for interviews when playing on the American stage.

This is thanks to his early education abroad. Kim Joo-hyung was a promising talent expected to become a 'great star' early on. This is why he learned golf overseas rather than in Korea. Although born in Seoul, he learned golf in the Philippines, Australia, China, and Thailand. While the living environment was not as good as Korea, the golf conditions were better. He also made his professional debut on the Asian (APGA) Tour. The APGA Tour mainly takes place in Southeast Asia.

Kim Joo-hyung has excellent adaptability to new environments because he has traveled since childhood to places with different languages, food, customs, and grass. He is very accustomed to packing and unpacking, moving, and living in hotels. This was the driving force behind Kim Joo-hyung's sudden victory after only 15 PGA Tour appearances.

Kim Joo-hyung has steadily climbed each step by preparing a blueprint to achieve his dream of entering the PGA Tour. His original plan was to use the APGA Tour as a stepping stone to the PGA Tour. In his teens, he became the money leader on both the APGA Tour and the Korean Professional Golf (KPGA) Korean Tour, and at the young age of 20, he has now conquered the PGA Tour. He expressed his joy, saying, "It was a victory I really hoped for, but I didn't expect it to come so suddenly."

As a 'special temporary member,' Kim Joo-hyung immediately earned full PGA Tour membership with this tournament win. He earned 500 FedEx Cup points, ranking 34th in this category. He will participate in the first round of the FedEx Cup Playoffs (PO), the FedEx St. Jude Championship, held on the 11th at Southwind TPC in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. Kim Joo-hyung said, "I want to perform well in the first and second rounds of the playoffs and also compete in the final Tour Championship."