'AG Star' Im Sung-jae: "If I have a son, I should make him a golf player"

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He has now become a national star.

This is what people say about Im Sung-jae, who won the gold medal in the men's team event and the silver medal in the individual event at the Hangzhou Asian Games. Wherever he goes, fans line up to get his autograph on hats and golf balls and to take commemorative photos that will last a lifetime. In an interview with Asia Economy on the 13th, Im Sung-jae recalled, "I still feel emotional when I think about standing on the podium at the Asian Games," adding, "I will never forget the moment when I sang the national anthem while looking at the Taegeukgi."

Im Sung-jae expressed his aspiration, saying, "Having received military service benefits by winning the gold medal at the Asian Games, I want to have a long career on the American stage."

After hanging the gold medal around his neck, Im Sung-jae received countless congratulatory calls and messages. Among them, he remembered Justin Thomas (USA) the most. The two players built a friendship during the Presidents Cup last September, a golf competition between the International Team (excluding Europe) and the USA. Im Sung-jae said, "There was a social time for players to party at last year's Presidents Cup," and added, "Although I didn't receive a video call from Thomas, he posted a congratulatory message on SNS (social networking service), which really touched me." He continued, "I am learning a lot by watching Thomas, who is a top player on the PGA Tour," and said, "I was very grateful to receive congratulations from such a player."

Im Sung-jae married Ms. Kim, who graduated from a music college in New York last December. They currently live in a mansion inside the Sugarloaf TPC in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. When asked about plans for children, Im smiled and said, "I want to have about two children. I hope to have one son and one daughter." He added, "I think they will like and be interested in seeing their dad play golf," and said, "If it's a son, I want to have him play golf."

Im Sung-jae is aiming for the Paris Olympics next year. If he qualifies, he is determined to participate willingly. He finished tied for 22nd at the Tokyo Olympics two years ago. Reflecting on that, he said, "I regret not being able to show my true ability at the Tokyo Olympics." He continued, "Winning a medal at the Olympics is also very meaningful," and smiled brightly, saying, "If I participate in the Paris Olympics, my goal is to compete for a medal. I want to win a medal at the Olympics following the Asian Games."

Jang Yu-bin, Cho Woo-young, Im Sung-jae, and Kim Si-woo (from left) are cheering on the podium after winning the team gold medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games.

Having solved the biggest concern for a man in his twenties, Im Sung-jae moves forward for bigger dreams. Thanks to military service benefits, he can now have a stable tour life. Im Sung-jae happily said, "With the Asian Games gold medal, I can focus more on the PGA Tour." His goal for next year is to win a major tournament. "This year, I had disappointing results in major tournaments. I plan to set up a strategy to win at least one major tournament," he said, adding, "I will work harder to become a stronger player by achieving good results in majors." Im Sung-jae also expressed his desire to play on the PGA Tour for life if qualified. He smiled and said, "The PGA Tour is the best stage that provides all the support for players to compete," and added, "I hope to also participate in the senior tour, which is for players over 50."

Im Sung-jae has two favorite players. They are the 'Golf Emperor' Tiger Woods (USA) and the 'PGA flagship star' Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland). He is especially captivated by McIlroy's charm. Im Sung-jae (183cm) said, "McIlroy (175cm) is shorter than me, but the distance he hits and the sound of the ball are different. His ability to control the ball even when the wind blows is excellent," and evaluated, "His play itself is cool. He performs very well even under pressure. There is a lot to learn from him."

Im Sung-jae is a player whose strength lies in consistency. Since his PGA Tour debut in 2019, he has made the cut in 123 out of 154 tournaments. Including two wins, he has finished in the top 10 an impressive 37 times. Although he has not won this season, he placed in the top 10 nine times and ranked 24th in the FedEx Cup standings. Above all, he is a diligent player. Im Sung-jae said, "Even on my days off, I have to practice shots. I feel uneasy if I rest," and smiled brightly, saying, "Golf seems to suit me well. I really enjoy it."

Im Sung-jae's year is not over yet. After the Genesis Championship of the Korean Professional Golfers' Association (KPGA) that opened on the 12th, he will compete in the PGA Tour Zozo Championship in Japan on the 19th. Im Sung-jae explained, "After the Zozo Championship, I plan to come to Korea to train and build my body," and added, "According to my current plan, I think I will start the new season at the Hawaii tournament next year." The PGA Tour will kick off the new season on January 14 next year with 'The Sentry,' the season-opening event held at the Kapalua Plantation Course in Maui, Hawaii, USA.

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