The World Stage Was Too High: Even Korea’s Top Players Struggled

Tears of Jang Yubin and Ok Taehoon, Who Dominated the KPGA Tour
Jang Yubin Swept Six Individual Titles Last Year
Bitter Experience: Best Finish Tied for 21st After Move to LIV Golf
This Year’s Five-Crown Winner Ok Taehoon Ties for 92nd at PGA Q-School

The global stage proved to be much higher and more formidable than expected. Players who had dominated the domestic tour challenged the international arena, but the results fell short of expectations. This is the story of Jang Yubin and Ok Taehoon. After experiencing setbacks on the world stage, both players ultimately returned to the Korea Professional Golfers' Association (KPGA) Tour.

Jang Yubin turned professional the year after winning the gold medal in the men's golf team event at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, which was held in 2023. Dubbed a "young gun of Korean men's golf," he quickly rose to prominence. Born in 2002, he has achieved three career victories, including back-to-back wins at the Gunsan Country Club Open on the KPGA Tour in 2023 and 2024. Last year, he swept six major awards on the KPGA Tour for the first time in its history: the Genesis Award (8,002.29 points), prize money leader (1,129,047,083 won), lowest scoring average (69.41), most top-10 finishes (11), longest driving distance (311.35 yards), and most improved player.

The World Stage Was Too High: Even Korea’s Top Players Struggled

Yubin Jang announced his return to Korea after failing to succeed in LIV Golf. Yonhap News

In December of last year, ahead of the final stage of the PGA Tour Qualifying (Q) School, Jang Yubin shifted his career path to LIV Golf. At the time, he stated, "After much deliberation, I decided to take on a new challenge with LIV Golf." LIV Golf highly valued his powerful long drives, generated from his 184 cm frame, and placed their bet on him. Jang Yubin became the first Korean player to step onto the LIV stage.

He competed as a member of the Iron Heads team, which includes Korean-American Kevin Na, but his results fell short of expectations. In the LIV tournaments, which have no cut, he did not finish in the top 10 even once. Across 13 events, his best result was a tie for 21st, and he only broke into the top 20 on four occasions. Ultimately, he failed to make the top 48 in the points rankings, finishing the season ranked 53rd overall.

While Jang Yubin showcased an average driving distance of 315.9 yards on the LIV Golf circuit, his preparation for the new stage was insufficient. His fairway accuracy rate was only 54.03%, and his iron shot precision wavered, resulting in a green-in-regulation rate of just 64.10%. He struggled to create birdie opportunities, and his short game faltered, keeping him in the lower ranks.

To make matters worse, he suffered an injury. He had difficulty managing his condition due to a ligament injury in his left thumb. "An MRI scan in January revealed that the ligament in my left thumb was partially torn and, in some areas, ruptured," he said. As a result, Jang Yubin withdrew from the LIV Golf Promotion event and decided to return to the KPGA Tour after just one year. He now plans to focus exclusively on the domestic tour in 2026.

Jang Yubin commented, "My experience in LIV Golf is an important asset in my career," adding, "For now, I believe it is right to return to basics and focus on the KPGA Tour." He continued, "After steadily building my competitiveness on the KPGA and Asian Tours, I will challenge the bigger stage again." He will begin off-season training in Vietnam starting January 3 next year.

Taehun Ok participated in the final stage of the PGA Tour Q-School but finished tied for 92nd place. Photo by KPGA

Ok Taehoon also experienced firsthand the formidable barrier of the global stage. This year, he claimed five major awards on the KPGA Tour. He secured three wins during the season-at the KPGA Championship, Gunsan Country Club Open, and Gyeongbuk Open-and swept the Genesis Award (7,203.87 points), most top-10 finishes (10), prize money leader (1,077,274,161 won), lowest scoring average (69.5797), and most improved player. By winning the Genesis Award, he also received a bonus prize of 200 million won, a Genesis car, a one-year DP World Tour card, and a five-year KPGA Tour card.

With the Genesis Award, Ok Taehoon advanced directly to the final stage of the PGA Tour Q-School. On December 9, he departed for the United States, working to adjust to the time difference and courses, accompanied by a trainer, a putting coach, and a professional caddie to ensure thorough preparation. However, he could not overcome the psychological pressure. In the final stage of Q-School, which concluded on December 14 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, he finished tied for 92nd place.

Bae Yongjoon and Noh Seungyul, who also competed in the same event, faced disappointment as well. Bae Yongjoon, who has two career wins on the KPGA Tour, finished tied for 85th, while Noh Seungyul, winner of the 2014 Zurich Classic on the PGA Tour, was tied for 51st after three rounds but withdrew. In this tournament, PGA Tour cards were awarded to the top five finishers, and Korn Ferry Tour eligibility was granted to the top 40, but these goals remained out of reach for all Korean players.