'Screen Golf King' Kim Hongtaek Jumps to 384th in World Rankings

Baeksong Holdings-Asiad CC Busan Open Victory
Third Career Win, Climbs 140 Spots from 524th Last Week
Scheffler, McIlroy, and Schauffele Remain in Top 3

'Screen golf king' Hongtaek Kim has climbed to 384th in the world rankings.

In the men's weekly world golf rankings announced on June 8 (local time), he received 0.3498 points, soaring 140 spots from 524th place last week. He earned these ranking points by winning the Baeksong Holdings-Asiad CC Busan Open (total prize money 1 billion won) on the Korea Professional Golf Association (KPGA) Tour, which concluded the previous day at Asiad Country Club (par 71) in Gijang-gun, Busan, with a score of 11-under-par 273. This marks his third career victory and his first win in a year since the GS Caltex Maekyung Open in May last year. The winner's prize is 200 million won.

Hongtaek Kim is kissing the trophy immediately after winning the Baeksong Holdings-Asiad CC Busan Open. Photo by KPGA

In April, during a practice round at the season-opening DB Insurance Promy Open, Kim Hongtaek suffered a minor muscle tear in his lower back and withdrew from the tournament. He then missed the cut in four consecutive events. Through rehabilitation, he overcame the aftereffects of his injury and captured the winner's trophy in his sixth tournament of the season. Kim Hongtaek is a star player both online and offline. On June 1, he won the Shinhan Investment G Tour 4th event, a screen golf tournament. He has now reached a total of 15 victories in screen golf competitions.

Scottie Scheffler (USA), Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland), and Xander Schauffele (USA) maintained their positions in the top three. Ryan Fox (New Zealand), winner of the PGA Tour RBC Canadian Open, jumped from 75th to 32nd place last week. Among Korean players, Im Sungjae is ranked 23rd, An Byeonghun is 43rd, Kim Joohyung is 52nd, and Kim Siwoo is 61st.