'European Tour Strongman' Wang Jeonghun "Challenging for Victory Domestically"

Knocking on the Top at DP World Tour Korea Championship
Kim Young-su, Bae Sang-moon, Jo Woo-young Among 60 Koreans Competing

‘Europe Tour powerhouse’ Wang Jeong-hoon is making his domestic appearance.

Wang Jeong-hoon will participate in the Korea Championship (total prize money $2 million), a jointly hosted event by the DP World Tour (formerly the European Tour) and the Korean Professional Golfers' Association (KPGA) Korean Tour, held over four days from the 27th at the Incheon Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea Urban & Links Course (par 72, 7,454 yards). This is the first European tournament held in Korea in 10 years since the Valentine Championship was held from 2008 to 2013.

A total of 156 players will compete, including the top 95 players in the DP World Tour seed rankings, the top 57 players in the Korean Tour seed rankings, and 4 recommended players. Sixty Korean players will participate in this tournament, challenging for the championship. The total prize money is $2 million (approximately 2.66 billion KRW), with the winner’s prize set at $340,000. The champion will receive a two-year exemption on both the Korean Tour and the DP World Tour.

Wang Jeonghun challenges for the championship at the DP World Tour Korea Championship held in Korea.

Wang Jeong-hoon is a strong favorite to win. He has secured three victories on the European stage, including the 2016 Hassan II Trophy and Mauritius Open, and the 2017 Commercial Bank Qatar Masters. He enlisted in the military in February 2021 and was discharged in July 2022, returning to the DP World Tour this year. This season, he has already posted two top-10 finishes, including a tie for 3rd at the Singapore Classic and 8th at the Thailand Classic, sharpening his form.

Wang Jeong-hoon said, "I am happy that the DP World Tour event is being held in Korea for the first time in 10 years. It is an honor to compete in front of Korean fans after a long time." He added, "This is my first time playing at Jack Nicklaus Golf Club. The fairways are relatively wide if you avoid the danger zones, so I believe I can achieve a good result." He continued, "Since the tournament is in Korea, I expect many supporters. I will repay them with a good performance."

Kim Young-soo, who won the Genesis Award and topped the money list on the Korean Tour last year, will meet domestic fans after a long time. Having earned a one-year DP World Tour card, he has mainly competed on the European stage this year. His personal best finish is a tie for 41st at the SDC Championship. Kim Young-soo won the Genesis Championship held on this course last year. He said, "I am excited to play in front of my home fans before fully embarking on the European circuit. Since this tournament is held on the course where I experienced my first victory, I have prepared with good memories."

Players with DP World Tour experience such as Moon Kyung-jun, Choi Jin-ho, and Lee Soo-min are also participating. Representatives of the Korean Tour, including this year’s season opener DB Insurance Promy Open winner Ko Gun-taek, Park Sang-hyun, Seo Yo-seop, Bae Yong-jun, Heo In-hoe, Kim Bi-o, and Park Eun-shin, will also compete. Two-time PGA Tour champion Bae Sang-moon and Jo Woo-young, who became an amateur champion for the first time in 10 years at last week’s Golfzon Open, will participate as recommended players.

Among foreign players, Danish twins Nikolaj Højgaard and Rasmus Højgaard, as well as Robert MacIntyre (Scotland), who has two DP World Tour wins, are considered dark horses.