'The True Test'... 'Top 10 News in the 2023 Golf World'

Golf experienced abnormal growth after COVID-19 in 2020. All sectors, including golf courses, golf equipment, and tours, enjoyed a boom. However, this year marks a gradual departure from the COVID-19 effect. Golfers are turning their attention overseas, and equipment companies and apparel brands are going through an adjustment period. Analysts say the "bubble is slowly deflating." Next year, the post-COVID-19 era, will be a true test. Asia Economy has selected the top 10 news stories in the tumultuous 2023 golf world.

Tiger Woods made his return to the field after 7 months at the Hero World Challenge.

◆ Spectacular Comeback = The 'Golf Emperor' Tiger Woods (USA) has returned. It has been seven months since he withdrew from the Masters in April. On the 3rd, he showcased his enduring skills at the PGA Tour's 'special event' Hero World Challenge held at Albany Golf Course in New Providence, Bahamas. He demonstrated stable performance over four days. He completed the 72 holes on foot. Although there were occasional limping scenes, his expression was noticeably brighter than before.

Woods' long-driving power remained intact. He averaged 304.90 yards, with a maximum of 370 yards. His fairway hit rate was 65.38%. With Woods' return, viewership soared. Compared to last year's Hero World Challenge, which Woods missed, ratings jumped by a whopping 53%. Having accumulated 72 career wins, Woods plans to compete every month next year. He smiled broadly, saying, "I have removed the rust that had built up. I look forward to the next tournament."

◆ Ah, the Good Old Days = The Taegeuk Ladies faced fierce challenges from competing countries. On the LPGA Tour, four players combined for five wins. Ko Jin-young (HSBC Women's World Championship, Cognizant Founders Cup) was the only one to secure two victories. Kim Hyo-joo (Ascendant LPGA Benefiting VOA), Yoo Hae-ran (Walmart NW Arkansas Championship), and Yang Hee-young (CME Group Tour Championship) each won once.

Since achieving 15 wins in 2019, Korea has seen a clear decline. They fought hard with seven wins each in 2020 and 2021, but only four wins last year and failed to meet expectations this year. At one point, up to seven players were ranked in the world’s top 10, but now only two remain: Ko Jin-young at 6th and Kim Hyo-joo at 7th. Next year, Lee So-mi, Sung Yu-jin, and Lim Jin-hee will join through qualifying. Yoo Hae-ran, who won Rookie of the Year this year, diagnosed, "Our skills have not declined. Other countries' players have improved."

Inbee Park (right) will challenge for the IOC Athletes' Commission at the Paris Olympics next year.

◆ Challenge of the 'Golf Queen' = Park In-bi has chosen a new path. She has thrown her hat in the ring for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Athletes' Commission. Park In-bi is a 'career golden slammer,' having won the four major championships and a gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics. She secured the Korean representative spot on the IOC Athletes' Commission, beating formidable candidates such as volleyball player Kim Yeon-koung, shooter Jin Jong-oh, taekwondo athlete Lee Dae-hoon, and badminton player Kim So-young.

Korea has produced two IOC Athletes' Commission members: Moon Dae-sung, gold medalist in taekwondo at the 2004 Athens Olympics, and Yoo Seung-min, men's singles gold medalist in table tennis at the Athens Olympics and current president of the Korea Table Tennis Association. Park In-bi aims to become an IOC Athletes' Commission member at the Paris Olympics opening in July next year. The selection is decided by direct voting from participating athletes. Only the top four candidates become IOC Athletes' Commission members. Park In-bi said, "I am excited about this new challenge."

◆ Distance Limitations = The Royal & Ancient Golf Club (R&A) and the United States Golf Association (USGA) have finalized distance restrictions. They argue that excessive distance damages the essence of golf and does not help the golf industry's development. The revised rules will apply not only to elite golfers but also to general amateur golfers. The plan is to apply the rules to elite golfers starting in 2028 and extend them to amateurs by 2030.

The core is to limit the golf ball's resilience to a certain level. The performance of golf balls will be restricted so that when struck at a swing speed of 125 mph (about 201.2 km/h), the ball does not travel more than 317 yards. The driving distance of top PGA Tour players will decrease by about 15 yards. Amateur golfers will lose about 5 yards in distance. Long hitter Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) has expressed support, but many players and equipment companies oppose the change.

◆ Life Turnaround = New stars have emerged on the domestic men's and women's tours. Lee Ye-won dominated the Korean Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour. After winning Rookie of the Year last year without a victory, she swept three wins this year, including a major, rising to the top. She ranks first in prize money (1.42482 billion won), points (651), and average score (70.71). Lee Ye-won said, "This season exceeded my expectations," and expressed her ambition, "I want to take another step forward next year."

Ham Jeong-woo made his name known on the Korean Professional Golfers' Association (KPGA) Korean Tour. He recorded 11 top-10 finishes, including one win. He ranks first in points (6062) and third in prize money (632.52 million won). He received his first Genesis Award. Additionally, he secured direct entry to the final stage of the PGA Tour Qualifying (Q) School and earned a one-year DP World Tour card. Ham Jeong-woo said, "This season my skills improved to the next level," and added, "I will challenge overseas stages in 2024."

Jang Yu-bin, Cho Woo-young, Im Sung-jae, and Kim Si-woo (from left) jointly won the gold medal in the men's golf team event at the Hangzhou Asian Games.

◆ Asian Games Gold Medal = Korean men's golf displayed overwhelming skill. They won the gold medal in the team event at the Hangzhou Asian Games in October. Im Sung-jae, Kim Si-woo, Cho Woo-young, and Jang Yoo-bin combined for victory (76 under par, 788 strokes) at the West Lake International Golf Course in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. They comfortably defeated second-place Thailand by a margin of 25 strokes. Korea claimed the men's team golf title at the Asian Games for the first time in 13 years since the 2010 Guangzhou Games.

Korea fielded world-ranked 27th Im Sung-jae and 40th Kim Si-woo as the 'one-two punch.' Im Sung-jae added an individual silver medal. Kim Si-woo finished 4th, Jang Yoo-bin 5th, and Cho Woo-young tied for 6th, with all participants finishing in the top 10. On the other hand, the Korean women's team, composed only of amateurs Yoo Hyun-jo, Lim Ji-yoo, and Kim Min-sol, failed to win gold. They earned a team silver and an individual bronze (Yoo Hyun-jo).

◆ Rising Star = Kim Joo-hyung demonstrated his presence as a 'box office card' on the PGA Tour. He won the Shriners Children's Open in October. This was his second win of the season and third overall, one year after winning the same event last year. The winner's prize was $1,512,000 (about 2 billion won). He became the second Korean player to win back-to-back titles after Lee Kyung-hoon (AT&T Byron Nelson).

With this victory, Kim Joo-hyung earned a two-year PGA Tour card and qualifications to compete in the Sentry Tournament of Champions, the Players Championship (the fifth major), the Masters, and the PGA Championship. This season, he recorded nine top-10 finishes, including one win, earning $7,774,918 (about 1.03 billion won) in prize money and ranking 20th in the FedEx Cup standings. He is the highest-ranked Korean player at 11th in the world rankings. Kim Joo-hyung said firmly, "My next goal is a medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics."

◆ Golf Course System Changes = The government stepped in to curb soaring green fees. The existing dual system of membership and public courses was reorganized into a three-tier system: membership, non-membership, and public golf courses. This means closely scrutinizing the tax benefits currently granted to non-membership golf courses. The key is that non-membership golf courses must charge green fees below government-set limits to continue receiving property tax and individual consumption tax reductions.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism designated 344 out of 375 non-membership golf courses (92%) as public golf courses, provided they meet usage fee requirements. The condition is that the average weekday course fee must be lower than 188,000 won and the weekend fee lower than 247,000 won. However, questions remain about effectiveness. The problem is that no upper limit on green fees was set. Critics point out that popular time slots can still be priced high using average course fees as a benchmark.

Jay Monahan, PGA Tour Commissioner, has abruptly announced a merger with LIV Golf, with which he had previously been at odds.

◆ Sudden Merger = Somewhat shocking news. Since last year, the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, sponsored by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), had been sharply at odds, but in August they announced a merger. Jay Monahan, PGA Tour Commissioner, made a sudden decision to merge with LIV Golf and collaborate with PIF. This reversed the previous stance of imposing severe penalties on players who moved to LIV Golf. LIV Golf, launched last year, had faced criticism for 'sports washing' Saudi Arabia's human rights issues.

The aftermath was intense. Disappointment was expressed over the lack of communication from Commissioner Monahan and PGA Tour leadership. Players expressed anxiety not only about the merger process but also about the lack of explanation regarding future tour operations. Rory McIlroy, Collin Morikawa (USA), and others clearly opposed the merger. The merger between the two organizations still has a long way to go. Recently, Jon Rahm (Spain), world No. 3, who had shown hostility toward LIV Golf, transferred to it.

◆ New Materials and AI = The equipment industry waged a fierce war over new materials. TaylorMade shook the market with carbon faces. They used the most carbon ever in history to further enhance distance and forgiveness. Carbon was used in the carbon crown, carbon-reinforced composite ring, carbon sole, and 60-layer carbon twist face. Titleist focused on metal lines. With ultra-lightweight design, improved aerodynamics, and strategically placed center of gravity, they provided top speed, distance, and optimal high launch angles.

AI expanded its domain in golf as well. Following AI-applied drivers, this year saw the first-ever AI putters. Callaway introduced two lines: the AI-1 Milled with a field face and the AI-1 with a urethane insert. These products were developed focusing on ball speed. They explained that even if the putt is made about 1 cm off-center, ball speed decreases by only about 5%. Even mishit putts achieve consistent ball speed, allowing the ball to stay close to the hole.

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