The Men's Golf 'Ticket Battle' Changed by the One-Year Postponement of the Asian Games

Im Sung-jae and Kim Si-woo Selected but Postponed to October Next Year Due to COVID-19
As of Now, Wyndham Championship Winner Kim Joo-hyung Holds the Advantage
Kim Sung-hyun Also Joins PGA Tour... Final Two Winners Still Uncertain

'PGA Korea's Youngest Champion' Kim Joo-hyung has emerged as a typhoon in the race for the national team at next year's Hangzhou Asian Games.

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] 'Unpredictable.' With the Hangzhou Asian Games in China postponed by one year, the competition for men's golf participation rights is becoming increasingly uncertain.

COVID-19 has changed everything. Naturally, players who expected to wear the Taegeuk mark and receive 'military service benefits' have been hit hard by new variables. The golf event at the Hangzhou Asian Games, originally scheduled to be held over four days from September 15 at the West Lake International Golf Club in Hangzhou, China, has changed its regulations to allow professional players to participate for the first time. The Korea Golf Association decided that, with the allowance of professional players, two professionals would be selected based on the world rankings as of April, without a separate qualifying tournament.

Under the original plan, Im Sung-jae (24), ranked 19th in the world, and Kim Si-woo (27), ranked 51st, could have worn the Taegeuk mark. Among amateur players, Jang Yoo-bin (20), who ranked first in the Amateur Golf Championship, and Cho Woo-young (21, both from Korea National Sport University), who ranked first in the final amateur selection, were selected after fierce competition. Especially since most participating countries planned to send amateur players to the Hangzhou Asian Games, it was expected that Korea would sweep the gold medals in both the individual and team events. In the team event, the medal color is determined by the scores of three out of four players, so the gold medal was considered a 'done deal.'

However, the ticket competition has returned to square one. This is because the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) Executive Board announced a one-year postponement, stating that the Hangzhou Asian Games will be held from September 23 to October 8 next year.

During this time, Kim Joo-hyung (20) has risen. As of the 16th, he has jumped to 19th in the world rankings, the highest among Korean players. Having gained opportunities to participate in the PGA Tour as a special temporary member, he recorded his first career win at the Wyndham Championship, the final event of the 2021/2022 regular season, on the 8th, causing his ranking to soar. His world ranking, which was only 132nd at the beginning of the year, has jumped more than 100 places in about seven months. He rose to 89th after winning the Asian Tour Singapore International in January, then jumped to 39th last month by finishing third at the PGA Tour Genesis Scottish Open. Following his Wyndham Championship win and a tie for 13th at the first FedEx St. Jude Championship playoff event, he further improved his world ranking.

Based on current standings, if the national team were selected now, Kim Joo-hyung could take Kim Si-woo's spot.

Considering that the Korea Golf Association decided the Asian Games participants based on rankings as of April 25, the ranking competition among key players is expected to intensify over the next eight months until April next year.

Additionally, a new competitor has emerged: Kim Sung-hyun (24), who will join the PGA Tour next season. Accordingly, the competition for Asian Games tickets is expected to be fiercer than ever.