Strength and Shot Improvement by Jang Heemin: "Aiming to Win 3 Tournaments This Year"

Tied for Lead at KPGA Korean Tour Season Opener
Focus on Strengthening Stamina and Practicing Full-Body Swing Use

Jang Heemin, in his second year on the Korean Professional Golf Association (KPGA) Korean Tour, has made a smooth start toward winning the main sponsor-hosted tournament.

Jang Heemin is teeing off at the 10th hole during the first round of the KPGA Korean Tour season opener, the DB Insurance Promy Open, held on the 13th at the Ravie Belle Country Club Old Course in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province.
[Photo by KPGA]

On the 13th, Jang Heemin shot a 5-under-par 67 in the first round of the 18th DB Insurance Promy Open (total prize money of 700 million KRW), the season opener of the KPGA Korean Tour, held at the Old Course of La Vie Est Belle Country Club in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province. He shared the lead with Go Guntaek and Kim Seunghyuk, recording seven birdies and two bogeys.

Jang Heemin, sponsored by DB Insurance, the main sponsor of this tournament, started wearing a hat emblazoned with the DB Insurance name and logo in competitions this year. In a post-round interview, he smiled and said, "It was my first time playing in a tournament hosted by the main sponsor. I wasn’t nervous, but I did feel some pressure." Reflecting on his round, he said, "My putting felt better than I expected, and my iron shots were sharp. My tee shots also hit the fairway well, which allowed me to create many good opportunities."

He debuted on the Korean Tour last year and won his second tournament, the Woori Financial Championship, in May. Although he started well, he struggled after his first victory, being eliminated in the second round of a match play event and missing the cut eight times in the following ten tournaments. He identified neglecting physical conditioning as a problem.

This year, to address this, he has intensified strength training and gained about 4 kg in weight. During training camp in Thailand, he focused on shot practice to utilize his entire body during his swing. He also concentrated on identifying the causes of mistakes after practice rounds to avoid repeating them.

Jang Heemin expressed his determination, saying, "I want to become the best player in our country," and added, "I aim to win three tournaments: the main sponsor’s event, the title defense at the Woori Financial Championship, and the Genesis Championship."

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