Donghwan Lee vs Minhyuk Song... '17-Year Age Gap Rookie Race'

36-year-old Lee Donghwan Debuts Late After Japan and USA
PGA Q-School Top Passer, Former Japan Rookie of the Year
19-year-old Song Minhyuk Tops KPGA Tour QT with Enthusiasm
Sponsorship Contracts Progressing, Distance Improved in Thailand Training Camp

Who will be the rookie to bring a fresh breeze to this year's Korea Professional Golfers' Association (KPGA) Tour?

Lee Dong-hwan, who has been active in Japan and the United States, will make his debut on the KPGA Tour this year at the late age of 36.

36-year-old Lee Dong-hwan and 19-year-old Song Min-hyuk are clashing for the top rookie spot. The age difference between the two players is 17 years. Lee Dong-hwan has a brilliant career. As an amateur, he won the Korean Amateur Golf Championship in 2003 and the Japan Amateur Golf Championship in 2004. From 2004, he wore the Taegeuk mark and competed for two years. In 2006, he joined the Japan Golf Tour Organization (JGTO) and became the youngest Rookie of the Year. He has two wins on the Japanese stage.

But that’s not all. In 2012, he became the first Asian player to top the U.S. Professional Golfers' Association (PGA) Tour Qualifying (Q) School. The following year, he joined the PGA Tour, and until February 2022, he played on the Korn Ferry (second-tier) Tour before returning to Korea. Lee Dong-hwan is a late-blooming rookie debuting on the KPGA Tour this year. In November last year, he participated in the KPGA Tour Qualifying Tournament (QT) and secured a tour card by finishing tied for 25th.

Having started his golf career overseas, Lee Dong-hwan is returning to basics this new year. He said, "I want to spend my rookie season with the mindset of a fresh start," adding, "Having taken time to recharge after returning to Korea, I will show good performance." He continued, "I will challenge the Rookie of the Year award like Park Sung-joon did last year," and expressed his determination to "make golf fans remember the name Lee Dong-hwan again."

19-year-old Song Min-hyeok has been a promising player known as a 'pro killer' since his amateur days.

The fighting spirit of Song Min-hyuk, who is seventeen years younger than Lee Dong-hwan, is also formidable. He is a promising player who ranked first in last year's KPGA Tour QT. He has been a national team member from 2021 until last year. As an amateur, he accumulated an impressive 15 wins. After obtaining his KPGA Tour professional qualification in July last year, he mainly competed on the Srixon (second-tier) Tour. Representing the national team last year, he finished runner-up at the GS Caltex Maekyung Open and tied for third at the SK Telecom Open. He was known as an 'amateur killer.'

On the 15th of last month, Song Min-hyuk left for training camp in Thailand. He plans to work hard until his return on the 29th. Song, who excels in putting and short game, is focusing on increasing his driving distance. He is dedicating himself to weight training and flexibility exercises. His sponsorship contracts are progressing smoothly. His clubs are Titleist, and his apparel is sponsored by Hansae MK’s ‘PGA TOUR & LPGA.’ The main sponsor will be announced soon.

Song Min-hyuk said, "As it is my debut season, I feel both nervous and excited. I want to be the one and only Rookie of the Year in my life," adding, "I also want to be first in Genesis Points, but I will let go of greed and try to enter the top 5." He also said, "I want to lift the winner’s trophy at the Hyundai Insurance Choi Kyung-ju Invitational and take a commemorative photo with my role model, Choi Kyung-ju," and shared, "I will look at the season long-term and move forward."