Korean Tour "This Year's Winning Keyword: 300-Yard Long Drive"

Record 7 Members Join the '300-Yard Club', 28 Players Over 290 Yards, Long-Hitters' Winning Probability Soars to 59%

Hanbyeol Kim (left) and Bio Kim won this year's Korean Tour by leading with drives over 300 yards.

[Asia Economy Reporter Now Rae] "300-yard long drive."

This is the keyword for the Korea Professional Golf Association (KPGA) this year. Realizing the fact that "you cannot survive without hitting long drives," players are dedicating themselves to increasing their driving distance. With improvements in golf clubs, golf balls, and effective training for players, driving distances are rapidly increasing. The Korean Tour, which concluded with the LG Signature Players Championship on the 7th of last month, has officially entered the era of 300-yard drives.

A total of seven players exceeded an average driving distance of 300 yards. This is a record-breaking number, surpassing five players in 2018 and six last year. Mika Lauren Shin (USA) ranked first (308.47 yards), along with the 'power hitter' Jang Seung-bo (25, 308.12 yards), Kim Hong-taek (28, 306.45 yards), Kim Min-jun (31, 306.08 yards), Kim Tae-hoon (36, 306.08 yards), Kim Han-byeol (25, 301.69 yards), and Kim Bi-o (31, 301.27 yards) all joined the '300-yard club.'

Until 2017, 300-yard long drivers were rare. In 2009, Kim Dae-hyun (33) became the first to break 300 yards with a 303.68-yard drive. Three years later, in 2012, Kim Bong-seop (38, 309.087 yards) became the second player to reach 300 yards. After Kim Tae-hoon became the long drive champion (301.07 yards) in 2013, there were no 300-yard players for five years. Considering this, the long driving ability of domestic players has noticeably increased in the past three years.

Of course, hitting long drives does not guarantee victory. However, as courses get longer and greens become more challenging, it has become a basic requirement. Longer drives allow players to approach the green with shorter irons. Kim Han-byeol secured his third career win at the Yamaha Honors K Open in July with powerful long drives, and Kim Bi-o also achieved a six-stroke victory at the LG Signature Players Championship.

Expanding the range to players averaging over 290 yards, there are as many as 28 players. These include 8th-ranked Kim Dong-eun (24, Golfzon), 12th-ranked Kim Joo-hyung (19, CJ Logistics), 13th-ranked Heo In-hoe (34), 21st-ranked Moon Kyung-jun (39, NH Nonghyup Bank), 22nd-ranked Lee Jae-kyung (21, CJ OnStyle), 26th-ranked Seo Yo-seop (25), and 27th-ranked Moon Do-yeop (30, all DB Insurance). The 'long drive group' averaging over 290 yards combined for 10 wins out of 17 tournaments this year, a winning rate of 59%.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.