'Korean Hulk' Jeong Chan-min "I have to win in the US too"

Long hitter up to 370m, perfect short game complement
Conferi Tour heads to Chile... "PGA Tour win GO"

"Dreams are better when they are big."

'Korean Hulk' Jeong Chan-min is dreaming big. His goal is to lift the winner's trophy on the PGA Tour, where the best players gather. In an interview with Asia Economy before departing for Chile on the 22nd, Jeong said, "I am heading to Chile to compete in the Korn Ferry (second-tier) Tour," adding firmly, "I will bring good news." He continued, "Someday, I want to play on the PGA Tour," and vowed, "I will work even harder for that dream."

'Korean Hulk' Jeong Chan-min is dreaming of entering the American stage, leading with powerful long hits.

Born in 1999, Jeong Chan-min started playing golf in the third grade of elementary school. He soared during his amateur days. He was unbeatable, achieving back-to-back wins at the Songam Cup Amateur Championship in 2016 and 2017. In his first victory in 2016, he beat runner-up Kim Han-byeol by six strokes. When he successfully defended his title in 2017, it was a commanding 10-stroke victory. However, the professional stage was not easy. From 2019, he played on the Korean Professional Golfers' Association (KPGA) Srixon (second-tier) Tour. He faced setbacks in the Qualifying Tournament (QT), which is equivalent to the regular tour qualification test, in 2019 and 2020. He revealed, "There was a time I considered giving up golf," but added, "I'm glad I endured and persevered."

Jeong showed his former form starting in 2021. He won the 12th and final 20th events of the Srixon Tour, and as the top money earner, he entered the first-tier Korean Tour last year. Keeping his sights on the U.S. stage, he also competed in the Korn Ferry Tour. Those around him expected him to win the Rookie of the Year award, a once-in-a-lifetime honor, but he fell short by 2%. His only two top-10 finishes last year were tied 9th at the KPGA Championship in June and tied 4th at the Honors K·Solago CC Han Jang-sang Invitational in July. The Rookie of the Year went to Bae Yong-jun.

Jeong is a natural long hitter. He is called the "Bryson DeChambeau of Korea." He has a solid physique, standing 188cm tall and weighing 120kg. At the 2017 Young Champions Trophy held at Royal Liverpool Golf Club in the UK, he hit a massive 370 meters (about 405 yards), his longest recorded shot. Jeong humbly said, "There was a tailwind on flat ground," and "The fairways were hard, so the ball rolled a lot." Last year on the Korean Tour, he averaged 312.4 yards, earning the title of 'long drive king.' Jeong hits 300 yards with a 3-wood and 275 yards with a 2-iron.

This year, Jeong equipped himself with a new weapon. His driver is the TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus, with an 8-degree loft and an 85g TX shaft. It is set up to be as heavy and strong as possible. His swing measurement data is top-level: club speed of 115?120 mph, ball speed of 175?180 mph, and spin rate of 2300?2400 rpm. These figures are high even compared to PGA Tour players.

Jeong Chan-min improved his weak short game skills during the training camp in Vietnam.

Jeong expressed a strong determination to make a turnaround this year. From January 9 to February 28, he underwent over 50 days of training camp in Da Nang, Vietnam. He worked hard with coach Park Joon-sung, whom he has known since his national team days. He explained, "I focused on the short game and putting, which were lacking last year," adding, "Especially, I concentrated on training to get the ball within 4?5 meters inside 100 meters." After returning to Korea, he commuted daily to Busan Asiad CC. His routine included practice on the green at 9 a.m., shot training after lunch, and playing the course from 4:30 p.m. Afterward, he reviewed weaknesses at the practice range and finished training by 7:30 p.m. Whenever he had time, he focused on weight training to build strength.

Jeong will continue to compete in both the Korean Tour and Korn Ferry Tour this year. He holds a conditional status after finishing tied 59th in last year's Korn Ferry Tour QT. From the 30th, he will compete for four days at the Astara Chile Championship (total prize money $1 million) held at the Prince of Wales Country Club in Santiago, Chile. Jeong said, "If I perform well in this tournament, I can play in the Veritex Bank Championship (April 13?16 in Arlington, Texas, USA)," and expressed his determination, "I want to make a strong impression at the Chile tournament."

Jeong's ultimate goal is to play on the PGA Tour, a wish shared by all players. He said, "After succeeding on the Korn Ferry Tour, I want to compete on the PGA Tour stage." He added, "I heard that the PGA Tour will have a QT again," and "I want to compete with strong players and learn a lot."

Jeong is a player with a strong sense of self. He said, "I don't want to imitate anyone. My goal is to pursue my own golf," emphasizing, "I will play more aggressively." He confidently stated, "Last year, my play got tangled, my confidence dropped, and my swing became constrained, but this year is different. I will show my spirited play with my signature powerful shots."