‘Sincere Guntaek’... "I practiced immediately the day after winning"

Goguntaek, the Only Multi-Champion on This Year's Korean Tour
Training Right After 2 Wins, Revises Goal to 3 Wins Including Grand Prize This Season
"I Want to Play on the PGA Tour Someday"

He is the "Diligent Go Guntaek."

This is the story of Go Guntaek, who is gaining attention as a "rising star" on the Korean Professional Golfers' Association (KPGA) Korean Tour. On the 23rd, he won the HonorsK·Sollago CC Hanjangsang Invitational held at the Sollago Country Club Sol Course in Taean-gun, Chungnam. This was his second victory of the season, three months after the season opener, the DB Insurance Promy Open in April. He is the only multi-champion on this year’s Korean Tour. In an interview with Asia Economy on the 28th, he said, "I practiced briefly after the win," adding, "I plan to start full-scale training from August." The Korean Tour is on a three-week "summer break."

Go Guntaek first picked up a golf club at the age of nine. It was when his father had just started playing golf and was getting interested in it. He recalled, "My father took me, who was at home, to the driving range and made me play golf," and "My first tournament was at 11, and I participated in a national competition at 12." Go Guntaek is from Jeju Island. In 2016, during his second year at Jeju High School, he made a definite name for himself by winning the Jeju Governor’s Cup Junior Golf Championship. After that, he confidently ranked first in the national team selection. He reminisced, "The Jeju Governor’s Cup was a turning point in my golf life," and "I found playing golf really fun."

Gogun Taek is emerging as a new powerhouse in the Korean Tour. Being the first to achieve two wins, he expressed his determination, saying, "I will strive for three wins this season and aim for the grand prize."

Go Guntaek’s entry into the professional ranks was also smooth. He finished tied for 9th in the Korean Tour Qualifying Tournament (QT), earning his place on the regular tour in 2020. In his first year, he made the cut in all nine tournaments he entered, maintaining his tour card. However, victories were hard to come by. He explained, "It took time to adapt to the first division tour. The greens were fast, and the rough was long," adding, "My par-saving skills were lacking, so I was far from the winning circle. I worked hard to improve that."

When asked to name the most memorable tournament, he gave an unexpected answer. It was neither the DB Insurance Promy Open, where he won his first career title, nor the HonorsK·Sollago CC Hanjangsang Invitational, where he triumphed after a playoff. Instead, he chose the Genesis Championship in October 2021. He led wire-to-wire for three days and was expected to win, but a disappointing 78 on the final day dropped him to third place. He said, "My mental state collapsed on the last day. I realized my shortcomings," adding, "Although I missed the win, it was the most meaningful tournament. It gave me the strength to achieve two wins this year."

Go Guntaek is a "gentleman." He knows how to be considerate of others. Right after winning the HonorsK·Sollago CC Hanjangsang Invitational, he did not perform any special celebration. This was because he defeated Im Yetak, who is one year his senior from his hometown. Im Yetak is a player on the KPGA Srixon (second-tier) Tour. They have been like brothers since childhood. Im Yetak qualified through the preliminary round and caused an upset in the tournament. Go Guntaek said, "Competing against my brother was more pleasant than burdensome," but also respected Im Yetak by saying, "I celebrated my first win, but I didn’t want to do it this time."

Goguntaek is a player with precise iron shots and excellent putting skills.

Go Guntaek’s role model is Jordan Spieth (USA). Spieth is a world-class star who has won 13 PGA Tour titles, including three majors. He is especially excellent at putting. Spieth also takes good care of his nine-year-old younger sister Ellie, who has a congenital developmental disorder. Since 2013, he has established a foundation to support children with similar illnesses. Go Guntaek said, "My favorite player is Jordan Spieth. I think he is really good at the short game." He added with a smile, "I want to be a player who consistently performs like Jordan Spieth," and "I want to be remembered as a polite and diligent player."

Before the season, Go Guntaek’s goals were one win and a top 10 finish in the Genesis Points. Having already secured two wins, he has "overachieved." He laughed, "Now that I have two wins, I will challenge for a third." Go Guntaek dreams of playing on a bigger stage. His newly set goals for this year are the Player of the Year award and winning the Genesis Championship. This category can earn him the much-desired PGA Tour card. He expressed his determination, saying, "Someday, I want to play and be seen on the PGA Tour," and "I ask for your much interest and support."