[New Start New Challenge] Super Rookie Yang Heejun: "I'm Confident About the Regular Tour Too"

Studied in Indonesia at 13, Top of the Full Member Qualifying Tournament
Breakout Year Last Season, No. 1 in Challenge Tour Points
"I Will Compete for Rookie of the Year on the Main Tour This Season"

This is the spirit of a true rookie. These are the aspirations of "super rookie" Yang Heejun, who is making his debut on the Korea Professional Golf Association (KPGA) Tour this year. After winning the Player of the Year award on the 2025 KPGA Challenge (second division) Tour, he said, "I gained a lot of confidence last year," and added, "I want to prove that a player who ranked first in the Challenge Tour's overall points (94,910 points) can also succeed on the KPGA Tour."

Yang Heejun enjoyed a smooth amateur career. Influenced by his father, who is a KPGA Tour professional, he picked up a golf club at the age of 12 and began studying in Indonesia at 13. After completing his military service in January 2022, he earned his KPGA pro (associate member) qualification in May of the same year, and then ranked first in the KPGA Tour pro (full member) qualifying tournament in June. He recalled, "After passing the exam at the top, there were tough times when I couldn't achieve the results I wanted."

Hee-Jun Yang announced that he will challenge for the Rookie of the Year title this year as he debuts on the Korea Professional Golfers' Association regular tour. Photo by KPGA

His first victory came at the 17th tournament of the 2022 KPGA Challenge Tour. Last year, his skills reached their peak. He claimed titles at both the season opener and the 18th tournament, and by competing in 19 tournaments, he secured two wins, two runner-up finishes, and ten top-10 finishes, ultimately ranking first in overall points. He explained, "Winning the opening tournament gave me a good start, and I was able to maintain my form consistently throughout the season."

He also set a new prize money record. Last year, he earned 96,196,575 won, setting the record for the highest single-season earnings in Challenge Tour history. He attempted to become the first player in the second division tour to surpass 100 million won in the final event, but fell short by 3,803,425 won. He said, "It's disappointing that I couldn't become the first player to reach 100 million won in Challenge Tour history."

Heejoon Yang received the Player of the Year award at last year's KPGA Challenge Tour. Provided by KPGA

Born in December 2000, he boasts a solid physique at 180 cm and 77 kg, with a powerful 300-yard drive. Last year on the Challenge Tour, he ranked second in average strokes (67.54), first in recovery rate (73.91%), eighth in average putts per hole (1.73), and tenth in greens in regulation (85.40%).

Earlier this month, Yang Heejun traveled to Indonesia for off-season training to prepare for the regular tour. He stated, "I will focus on refining my driver shots and short game." Unlike the Challenge Tour, the regular tour features narrower fairways, longer rough, and faster green speeds. Yang emphasized, "I will study how to hit the ball from difficult lies and rough conditions."

Hee-Jun Yang is focusing on short game training during the training camp in Indonesia. Provided by KPGA

The schedule for this year's KPGA Tour has not yet been announced. Last year, there were 20 tournaments, and the schedule was quite demanding. "Since it's my first time on the regular tour, I'm focusing on building my fundamentals through fitness and strength training," he said.

Yang Heejun will check his competitive edge at the KPGA Winter Tour in February. The first and second rounds of the KPGA My Moonyoung Winter Tour will be held at Bangkok Golf Club in Thailand from February 2 to 6 and February 9 to 13, respectively. Each tournament offers a total prize fund of 100 million won, and the format is 18 holes for the qualifier and 36 holes of stroke play for the final round.

He has competed in six KPGA Tour events so far, playing in two tournaments each in 2022, 2024, and 2025. At the Bodyfriend Phantom Robo Gunsan Country Club Open in August 2022, he made it through Monday qualifying and finished tied for 39th, marking his best personal result. At last year's Baeksong Holdings-Asiad Country Club Busan Open, he finished tied for 53rd.

Heejoon Yang is dreaming of a rookie uprising on the KPGA Tour this year. Photo by KPGA

Yang Heejun will make his official rookie debut at the KPGA Tour season opener in April. His goals are clear. He said, "First, I will do my best to retain my tour card, and then I will aim for the Rookie of the Year award."