[New Challenge] Bae Sang-moon "Dreaming of Revival, Like the Life He Saved"

Golf Star with a Total of 14 Wins in Korea, the US, and Japan
Missed Tour Card Due to Severe Slump After Military Service
Recent CPR Performed on Singapore Restaurant Employee Gains Attention
"I Will Not Rush and Will Enjoy Playing"

"What is that player doing?"

"I heard he lost his seed, so the number of tournaments he participates in has decreased."

Bae Sang-moon is going through a difficult time after losing his PGA Tour card. He expressed his determination, saying, "I will not rush and will work hard to return to the top stage."

This is a conversation about Bae Sang-moon. He was a star with a total of 14 professional wins, including 9 wins on the Korea Professional Golfers' Association (KPGA) Tour, 3 wins on the Japan Golf Tour Organization (JGTO), and 2 wins on the PGA Tour. He was doing very well. He was the money leader on the KPGA Tour in 2008 and 2009, and on the JGTO in 2011. In 2012, he advanced to the "dream stage," the PGA Tour, and within three seasons, he reached the top twice, representing Korea as a leading player. He was on a winning streak and was called the "post Choi Kyung-ju."

However, after his military service in 2017, Bae Sang-moon was unable to produce notable results. He lost his PGA Tour card and tried to make a comeback on the Korn Ferry Tour (the second-tier tour), but repeatedly faced setbacks. He participated conditionally in about 10 B-level tournaments as a past champion but did not achieve significant results. The vicious cycle of fewer tournaments to enter continued, and he gradually faded from fans' memories.

Three years ago, he even considered quitting golf altogether. Last season, he participated in eight tournaments and finished 223rd in the FedEx Cup rankings, showing poor performance. He recalled, "Honestly, it was tough. I felt discouraged because I couldn't keep playing in tournaments." He added, "Now, I am letting go of everything and starting anew. Since last year, my shot feeling has been coming back."

Bae Sang-moon performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation on an employee who lost consciousness and collapsed in Malaysia, saving a precious life.
[Photo by Kim Young-soo SNS]

Bae Sang-moon recently attracted media attention for something unrelated to golf. It was just before the Asian Tour season opener, the IRS Prima Malaysia Open, on the 13th of last month. After finishing dinner with fellow players Kim Young-soo, Cho Min-kyu, and Han Seung-soo at a restaurant in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, he found an employee collapsed at the entrance. He immediately started cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and the employee regained consciousness shortly after. He said, "I had consistent CPR training in the military and practiced countless times, so I was able to do it naturally. Anyone in that situation would have done the same as I did."

Since last year, he has been participating in the Korn Ferry Tour and the Asian Tour. His attitude toward tournaments has changed. He feels grateful that there are tournaments where he can compete. Bae Sang-moon said, "Playing on a major tour is important, but I also think it is important to do my best wherever I am." He vowed, "I will give my best every time I enter a tournament." He performed well, tying for 9th place at the IRS Prima Malaysia Open. He also participated in the Asian Tour International Series Oman event that followed. He smiled and said, "Long breaks are not good. This year, I started my schedule with the Asian Tour. I met players I used to play with on the Asian Tour 10 years ago, and golf has become fun again."

Bae Sang-moon's mentor is "Tank" Choi Kyung-ju. He is a "living legend" with 8 PGA Tour wins. He currently plays on the PGA Tour Champions, the senior tour for players aged 50 and above. In 2021, he became the first Korean player to win a senior event at the Pure Insurance Championship. He is a strong support for juniors playing on the PGA Tour. He was also a benefactor who supported Bae Sang-moon during difficult times. They keep in touch regularly. Bae expressed gratitude, saying, "Coach Choi's encouragement gives me strength."

The golfer Bae Sang-moon respects the most is K.J. Choi. He said, "He is a benefactor who supported me during difficult times."
[Photo by Bae Sang-moon SNS]

Bae Sang-moon is a competitor. He attracted attention with his bold play and straightforward speech. Current PGA Tour players Kim Joo-hyung, Im Sung-jae, and Kim Si-woo grew their dreams by watching Bae Sang-moon. After finishing his Asian Tour schedule, Bae returned to the United States to prepare for his second leap. He has abandoned impatience and is working to shake off the pressure. He is also correcting his swing. Together with swing coach Dana Dahlquist, he is striving to improve swing consistency. He emphasized, "I worked really hard during the off-season. I will move forward step by step at my own pace."

Bae Sang-moon's goal is to return to the PGA Tour. Although he does not have a PGA Tour card because he did not rank within the top 125 in the FedEx Cup standings, he can participate in some tournaments using the past champion category. He has a long-term plan. He aims to rejoin the PGA Tour by 2026 at the latest. "It's unfortunate that I can't enter many tournaments because my seed ranking has dropped. But I won't be discouraged. I play with joy every time I enter a tournament. I will never miss an opportunity when it comes."

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