'First Half Hit' Lee Jaekyung "Look Forward to the Second Half"

This Year's Korean Tour 'Match King', No.1 in Grand Prize Points
MRI Checkup on Waist Shows No Issues, Strengthening Stamina and Putting
"Challenging Multiple Wins and Korn Ferry Tour Entry in Second Half"

Who is the biggest star of the first half of this year’s Korean Professional Golf Association (KPGA) Korean Tour?

It is none other than Lee Jae-kyung, a promising fifth-year “Match King” who is set to lead Korean men’s golf. He participated in 11 tournaments, finishing in the top 10 six times, including five consecutive top-10 finishes. On the 4th of last month, he entered the Descent Korea Match Play as a recommended player and defeated his “close friend” Bae Yong-joon in the final, securing his third career win after 1 year and 8 months. He ranks first in Genesis Points (3,376.53 points), third in prize money (384.3 million KRW), and second in average score (70.85 strokes). In an interview with Asia Economy on the 3rd, Lee said, “It was a satisfying first half with a win and maintaining first place in the points race,” adding with a bright smile, “I’m looking forward to the second half even more.”

Since the last tournament of the first half, the Kolon 65th Korean Open on the 25th of last month, Lee Jae-kyung has been busy. First, he checked his physical condition at a hospital. He was in second place, just one stroke behind Han Seung-soo after three rounds of the Korean Open, but slipped to a tie for fourth after shooting 7-over par in the final round. Lee explained, “I woke up in the morning before the final round with severe back pain,” adding, “It was difficult to focus on the game because of the back injury.”

Lee Jae-kyung emerged as the top star by delivering impressive performances in the first half of this year's Korean Tour. He expressed his determination, saying, "I want to win again in the second half, earn multiple victories, and receive the grand prize. I will also challenge the Korn Ferry Tour."

Right after the Korean Open, Lee underwent an MRI scan. Fortunately, the diagnosis was that it was not a serious injury. He said, “I had it checked as a precaution, and the opinion was that my muscles were shocked. The diagnosis was that physical therapy would help,” adding, “I think I learned once again the importance of body management. I will work out harder to prevent injuries.”

Last week, Lee gave himself a break. He expressed gratitude to those who supported him and enjoyed delicious food like meat and sushi. He said, “The past week was a time to relax a bit and recover mentally after the first half ended,” and added, “Starting this week, I plan to do my best to improve my weak short game.”

Lee Jae-kyung is a player who has experienced both the best and the worst. He was a national team member for two years starting in 2015, debuted on the Korean Tour in 2019, and won the Woosung Construction Aramir CC Busan Gyeongnam Open, earning the Rookie of the Year award. He also won the Deokchun Award (lowest score award) in 2020 and secured his second career win at the Genesis Championship in 2021, showing great promise.

However, two years ago, Lee suffered from a severe approach shot “yips.” He felt uneasy if he couldn’t get the ball on the green, and sometimes even used a putter in the rough around the green. Last year, he ranked 75th in prize money (81.2 million KRW), a disappointing record since turning professional. He struggled hard to overcome the approach yips. A year ago, he sought out swing coach Park Chang-jun to make changes and even altered his lifestyle to improve his short game.

Lee Jae-kyung has overcome approach yips and is eyeing the position of 'No. 1 in the country.'

Lee explained, “I get up at 6 a.m. every Monday without fail. When I train, I always start with approach shots first,” adding, “Because I practice early and don’t stay up too late, my lifestyle and golf rhythm have improved.” He also changed his attitude toward approach shot mistakes. “Accepting that my approach is weak made me feel more at ease,” he said with a smile. “Right now, I’d give myself about 70 points. If I get closer to 100 points, more winning opportunities will come.”

Lee’s goal for this year was to win and secure multiple victories. That desire remains unchanged. He confidently said, “I definitely want to win multiple times,” adding, “In the second half, I will fill in my weaknesses and show a better performance.” He also added one more wish: to be first in the points race. This is the first step toward advancing to the U.S. stage. The points leader can directly enter the final stage of the Korn Ferry Tour (PGA’s second-tier tour) qualifying school. Lee expressed his ambition, saying, “I want to maintain first place in the points race,” and “I plan to challenge the Korn Ferry Tour this year.”

Lee dreams of joining the PGA Tour, where the world’s best players compete. He has played in PGA Tour events such as The CJ Cup and the Genesis Invitational. He said, “When I was young, I vaguely wanted to go to the U.S. After experiencing the PGA Tour, my desire to advance to the U.S. grew,” adding, “It really seems like a tour made for players. I just want to play there again.”

Lee Jae-kyung has tied his golf shoes again to become the “No. 1 domestic player.” He is working on improving his physical condition through training and focusing on putting, which was somewhat disappointing in the first half. Lee emphasized, “I want to be a consistent player and one who communicates with fans.” He added, “To meet more fans, I think I need to succeed and make a name for myself. Please keep an eye on Korean men’s golf and give us lots of support.”

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