"We Are Special"... 'Extraordinary Sports Genes'

Kim Jaeho, 43, Becomes Oldest First-Time Winner on Regular Tour
Father Kim Yonghee Was a Professional Baseball All-Star MVP
Korda's Father Was a Tennis Major Champion
Golf DNA Runs in the Families of Woods, Daly, and Choi Kyungju

Blood runs deep, and the world of sports is no exception.

Recently, 43-year-old Kim Jaeho has drawn attention. He is a 17-year veteran of the Korea Professional Golfers' Association (KPGA) Tour. On November 2, at the Ferrum Club in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province, he claimed his first career victory at the KPGA Tour Lexus Masters. He competed in a playoff against Hwang Junggon, Choi Jinho, and Lee Yuseok, securing the win with a birdie on the first playoff hole, the 18th (par 5). This marked his first regular tour victory since debuting on the KPGA Tour in 2008. The winner's prize was 200 million won.

Kim Jaeho is cheering wearing the uniform of his father, Kim Yonghee, the second team manager of the Lotte Giants, right after winning the KPGA Tour Lexus Masters. Photo by KPGA

Kim Jaeho was virtually an unknown golfer. Born in January 1982, he struggled to win after joining the tour and finally lifted the trophy at his 210th tournament appearance. This set the record for the oldest player to win a regular tour event for the first time.

The reason he has become a hot topic is his exceptional genes. He is the son of Kim Yonghee, manager of the Lotte Giants' second baseball team. Kim Yonghee was a superstar, winning the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award at the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) All-Star Games in 1982 and 1984.

Kim Jaeho dreamed of becoming a baseball player like his father when he was young, but gave up on that path due to his grandmother's opposition. In fifth grade, he picked up a golf club instead of a baseball bat and eventually became a professional golfer. After securing his victory, Kim celebrated by wearing a Lotte Giants jersey with his father's name on it. He said, "My father always encouraged me, saying, 'Don't give up, work hard. Baseball players work even harder.'"

Nelly Korda (second from left) comes from a sports family, with parents who were tennis players and a sister active as a golf player. Photo by AFP Yonhap News

There are many athletes like Kim Jaeho who have inherited extraordinary sports DNA. Nelly Korda of the United States, currently ranked No. 2 in the world in women's golf, is a prime example. She has collected 15 career wins on the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour. Her father, Petr Korda, was the 1998 Australian Open tennis singles champion, and her mother, Regina, reached the round of 16 in the US Open tennis singles in 1989 and 1991. Initially, her older sister Jessica was more successful, recording six career wins on the LPGA Tour.

Nelly Korda is now the dominant force in women's golf. In the 2021 season, she captured four victories, including one major. Last year was her peak, as she tied the LPGA Tour record with five consecutive wins to start the season. She achieved seven victories in total that season, including a major, and posted overwhelming results in 16 tournaments. From March 25 last year to August 3, she held the world No. 1 ranking for 72 consecutive weeks. She also won the gold medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

Charlie Woods is teeing off at the PNC Championship last December while his father Tiger Woods watches. Photo by AP Yonhap News

Golf, in particular, has many father-son duos. The "golf emperor" Tiger Woods and his son Charlie are a notable pair. Born in 2009, Charlie has shown talent from a young age, closely resembling his father in both appearance and mannerisms. He possesses impressive golf skills. The duo has competed together in the PNC Championship, a father-child event, for five consecutive years since 2000, finishing as runners-up twice. Recently, Charlie was named to the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) First Team of the Year. In May, he won the Team TaylorMade Invitational and was listed among the top 12 male players with outstanding results in the AJGA this year. Tiger Woods said with a big smile, "Charlie hits the driver farther than I do. I think the day he beats me is coming soon."

John Daly, known for his flamboyant style, also has a son who is a golfer. Daly became a global star by winning two major championships: the 1991 PGA Championship and the 1995 Open Championship. He was the first player in PGA Tour history to average over 300 yards per season. Daly II, born in 2003 to his fourth wife Sherrie Miller, also drives the ball over 300 yards. Not only does he share his father's golf skills, but he also closely resembles him in appearance and fashion. The pair won the 2023 PNC Championship.

John Daly and his son resemble each other in both appearance and fashion style. Photo by Reuters and Yonhap News Agency

Choi Kangjun, the second son of "Tank" Choi Kyungju, who has eight career wins on the PGA Tour, is also a talented golfer. Choi Kangjun started with little league baseball but switched to golf at age 10. In 2016, he won the Texas Junior PGA Championship with his father as his caddie and produced strong results in national tournaments organized by the AJGA. His average carry distance with the driver is 295 yards. He is currently playing in the U.S. collegiate golf league, aspiring to join the PGA Tour. Choi Kyungju praised him, saying, "He has a unique competitive spirit, perhaps because he takes after me. He is the type who overcomes crises well."