Seungtaek Lee: "I Will Grow Into a Player Who Won't Be Outdone Anywhere in the World"

Debut at the Sony Open, the PGA Tour Season Opener
Focused on Precision Play Throughout the Off-Season
"I Set My Goal This Year to Retain My Tour Card"

'Bear' Seungtaek Lee has resolved to persevere and survive on the PGA Tour no matter what.

On January 14 (local time), during a video interview with domestic reporters, Lee said, "After checking out the course ahead of my first tournament, I realized the level of difficulty is high and there is a lot to prepare. It feels like a new and bigger wall has appeared." Having advanced from the Korn Ferry (second-tier) Tour, Lee will compete in the PGA Tour season opener, the Sony Open (total prize money of 9.1 million dollars), held over four days from January 15 at Waialae Country Club (par 70, 7,044 yards) in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Seungtaek Lee is conducting a video interview with domestic reporters ahead of his PGA Tour debut. Photo by Yonhap News

Lee stated, "The PGA Tour has been a stage I have desperately wanted for a long time. For this season, my goal is to retain my tour card." To maintain full-time status, he must finish within the top 100 in the FedEx Cup standings, making the competition fierce.

He prepared extensively during the off-season to survive on the PGA Tour. He explained, "Because I lack the physical attributes and experience compared to other competitors, I need to play with precision. I have to push forward with my iron shots and perform well." He added, "To adapt to the firm greens of the PGA Tour, I practiced a lot of high-trajectory iron shots."

Lee is stepping onto his first stage with both nervousness and excitement. "It feels new and special to stand on the same stage as world-class players," he said, adding, "I want to play alongside Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland), and I would also like to compete with Scottie Scheffler and Jordan Spieth (both from the United States)."

Lee intends to focus solely on surviving the PGA Tour, without being distracted by other opportunities. When asked about LIV Golf, which has attracted many Korean players such as Byeonghun An, he responded, "I have never considered playing on another tour. I have only set my sights on the PGA Tour."