Baesangmun "I Want to Show That I Am Not Dead Yet"

Kolon Korea Open 1R 4-Under Par Momentum
KPGA Championship Tied 2nd Continues Steep Rise
Seeking Back-to-Back Titles "Hungry for Victory"

Baesangmun demonstrated his enduring prowess.

Bae Sang-moon is smiling brightly while giving an interview after completing the first round of the Korea Open.
[Photo by Kolon Korea Open Organizing Committee]

On the 20th, at the Woojeong Hills Country Club (Par 71, 7,326 yards) in Cheonan, Chungnam, during the first round of the Kolon 66th Korea Open (total prize money 1.4 billion KRW) jointly hosted by the Korea Golf Association (KGA) and the Asian Tour, he recorded six birdies and two bogeys. Shooting a 4-under-par 67, he jumped into the race for the championship. He said, "I want to feel the burning competition once again. I want to show that I am still strong at this Korea Open."

Baesangmun is a player 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. After advancing to the 'dream stage' of the PGA Tour in 2012 and enjoying steady success, he struggled to produce notable results following his military service in 2017. Currently, he is aiming for a comeback after losing his PGA Tour card. He won the Korea Open consecutively in 2008 and 2009.

He shared, "I never neglected my golf practice, but effort does not always directly translate into results," adding, "I tried not to hate golf." He was especially inspired by seeing 54-year-old Choi Kyung-ju win the KPGA Tour SK Telecom Open last May. "After watching his performance, I sent him a text message from the U.S. saying, 'Don't let the young players intimidate you,' and he even called me back immediately," he expressed his gratitude to Choi Kyung-ju.

Baesangmun's recent condition is not bad. Two weeks ago, he showed his resilience by finishing tied for second at the major KPGA Championship. He expressed strong motivation, saying, "With the runner-up finish at the KPGA Championship and this tournament, I want to feel that I still love golf." Returning to Woojeong Hills Country Club after six years, he predicted, "I have a desire to win. The key to victory will be hitting tee shots onto the fairway and leaving uphill putts with iron shots."

The winner and runner-up of this tournament will receive an entry ticket to The Open Championship held in Scotland on July 18. His last appearance at The Open was in 2012. He emphasized, "I want to achieve good results in domestic tournaments, build confidence, and demonstrate my strength in U.S. tournaments." After this week's tournament, he will participate in the PGA Tour ISCO Championship held in Kentucky, USA, on July 11.

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