More Players Depart... Who Will Lead the Way Now?

Rush of Korean Male Golfers Heading Overseas Raises Concerns for Domestic Tour
Lee Seungtaek, Age 30, Secures Tour Card via Korn Ferry Tour
Ok Taehoon and Choi Seungbin to Challenge PGA Q-School This Year
Genesis Champion Lee Jeonghwan Advances t

It is a reason to celebrate. Both veteran and young domestic players are heading overseas one after another. However, the Korea Professional Golf Association (KPGA) Tour cannot simply rejoice, as the key players who have been leading the domestic tour are leaving all at once.

There are already concerns about next season due to this rush of players advancing abroad. The KPGA Tour is struggling with a reduction in the number of tournaments and declining popularity, both caused by the economic downturn. This stands in contrast to the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour, which produces new stars every year.

Until now, Korean male players have chosen a difficult path to join the United States Professional Golf Association (PGA) Tour, seeking opportunities by competing directly overseas. Im Sungjae, Kim Siwoo, An Byeonghun, and Kim Joohyung, who are currently leading the PGA Tour, are representative examples. They reached the top after enduring hardships abroad, without going through the domestic tour. Im Sungjae, Kim Siwoo, and Kim Joohyung directly challenged the American stage, while An Byeonghun advanced to the PGA Tour via the DP World Tour.

Kim Sunghyun became the first player in KPGA Tour history to win after advancing through the Monday qualifier, then entered the United States via Japan. Courtesy of Korn Ferry Tour

Recently, however, there have been signs of change in the overseas advancement routes for domestic players. More are proving their abilities on the KPGA Tour before heading to the United States or Europe. Kim Sunghyun is a prime example.

He made his KPGA Tour debut in 2020 and became the first player in history to win the 63rd KPGA Championship after advancing through the Monday qualifier. Refusing to settle, he moved to the Japan Golf Tour Organization (JGTO) the following year and lifted the winner's trophy at the PGA Championship.

Kim Sunghyun began his career in the United States in 2022 through the PGA Korn Ferry (second-tier) Tour. He debuted on the PGA Tour in 2023 after ranking 12th in Korn Ferry points, finishing in the top 10 twice in his rookie season and ranking 68th in the FedEx standings. In 2024, he dropped to 130th and temporarily lost his tour card, but this year, by finishing eighth in Korn Ferry Tour points, he has returned to the PGA Tour.

Seungtaek Lee played on the KLPGA Tour for eight years before moving to the Korn Ferry Tour and earning eligibility to join the PGA Tour next year. Photo by KPGA

Whereas young players used to be the primary challengers, now players in their 30s are also knocking on the door of the big stage. Seungtaek Lee, nicknamed "Bear," is at the forefront. Born in 1995, he played on the KPGA Tour for eight years, claimed his first victory at last year's Lexus Masters, and ranked fifth in Genesis Points.

Last winter, he competed in the second stage of the PGA Tour Qualifying (Q) School, tying for 14th to advance to the final stage, where he again tied for 14th to secure Korn Ferry Tour eligibility. This year, he finished runner-up after a playoff at the Lecom Suncoast Classic and made the top 10 six times, ranking 13th in points to earn a full tour card.

He said, "I'm truly happy to have achieved my long-held dream of joining the PGA Tour. I've had the goal of playing on the PGA Tour since I was a child," adding, "This is just the beginning. I will do my best to show a good performance."

Ok Taehoon, ranked number one in Genesis Points, is preparing for the final stage of the PGA Tour Q-School this December. Photo by KPGA

Ok Taehoon, who achieved three wins on the KPGA Tour this year, is also preparing to advance overseas. He is targeting the final stage of the PGA Tour Q-School in December. Ranked number one in Genesis Points, he commented on Seungtaek Lee, who has already taken the stage in the United States, saying, "We first played together in the qualifying round of last year's Lexus Masters. His ball trajectory was excellent and his driving distance was long. Watching him enter the PGA Tour after finishing runner-up on the Korn Ferry Tour taught me a lot."

The younger generation continues to take on the challenge. Born in 2001, Choi Seungbin claimed victory at The Charity Classic in October and is aiming to join the PGA Tour for the fourth consecutive year. He plans to compete in the second stage of Q-School in November, saying, "I don't think it's difficult to go to the United States. I will try every time I get a chance to challenge myself," and added, "I feel that I am growing little by little."

Choi Seungbin, who secured his second career win on the KPGA Tour this year, has been challenging to enter the PGA Tour for four years. Photo by KPGA

The story does not end here. Lee Junghwan, who won last week's Genesis Championship co-hosted by the KPGA Tour and the DP World Tour, is also preparing to advance to Europe. With three career wins on the KPGA Tour, he completed his military service in October 2020 and became the father of twins last year. By winning this year's Genesis Championship, he secured a two-year DP World Tour card. He said, "The DP World Tour has always been my goal. If I finish in the top 10 in points, I will also have a chance to join the PGA Tour, so I will take on the challenge."

This year's Genesis Championship winner Lee Junghwan is aiming to join the PGA Tour next year by competing in the DP World Tour. Photo by KPGA

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