사진 확대 17-year-old Ahn Sung-hyun, who will make his PGA Tour debut at the Utah Championship, which opens on February 2. KGA
Ahn Sung-hyun (Hana Financial Group) will make his PGA Tour debut at the age of 17. Ahn Sung-hyun, who got a chance to play in the Utah Championship through Monday qualifying, said, “My long-time dream of competing with PGA Tour players has become a reality. I will play it confidently without being intimidated so that I can make my name known to the world,” he said.
Ahn Sung-hyun will participate in the PGA Tour Autumn Series Utah Championship, which will be held at the Ibbins Black Desert Resort Golf Course in Utah for four days from the 2nd (Korea Standard Time). In the Utah Championship Monday qualifying round held at St. George the Leadge Golf Course in Utah on the 29th, he tied for first place with 8-under 64.
In an interview with Maeil Economy ahead of his PGA Tour debut, Ahn Sung-hyun said, “It’s an honor to participate in a PGA Tour tournament that I’ve only seen on TV,” adding, “I’m looking forward to this tournament as my recent shots and putts are good.” We will do our best to raise the status of Korean golf,” he stressed.
Ahn Sung-hyun, who focused on identifying the Black Desert Resort golf course through a practice round on the 30th, set the first goal of this tournament to pass the cut. “As it is my first PGA Tour tournament, I plan to focus on passing the cut until the second day,” he said. “If I take the main stage, I will try to reach the top 10 or higher.”
Ahn Sung-hyun, who had nothing more to achieve as an amateur in Korea, including playing for the national team for three years, left for the U.S. to study golf in March. The biggest reason for giving up life in stable Korea and taking on the challenge is to advance to the PGA Tour.
Ahn Sung-hyun said, “I decided that it would be better to cross to the U.S. as soon as possible to win the PGA Tour as the main stage,” adding, “It’s been a little over six months since I came here, and I definitely feel my skills are improving. We will steadily compensate for the shortcomings and continue the genealogy of Korean PGA Tour winners,” he vowed.
He cited elaborate long balls as a weapon to perform well on the PGA Tour. Ahn Sung-hyun said, “The tee shot is really good these days. “The average carry distance is about 310 yards, including the run, but I think it’s about 330 yards,” he said.
[Reporter Lim Jungwoo]