Ok Taehoon Aims for Back-to-Back Wins... "May Was a Happy Month"

Title Defense at the KPGA Gyeongbuk Open
Swept Individual Titles Last Year at This Event
"My Condition Has Always Improved from Mid-May"

Ok Taehoon is aiming for back-to-back victories.

He is set to compete for the championship at the KPGA Gyeongbuk Open, the fourth event of the 2026 season on the Korea Professional Golf Association (KPGA) Tour, which will be held on May 14 at Golfzon County Sunsan (par 71) in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province. The total prize money for the event is 700 million won. The Gyeongbuk Open was newly established last year. It was originally planned as an off-tour event but was upgraded to a regular tour event, marking its second edition this year.

Ok Taehoon to challenge for 2 consecutive wins at the KPGA Gyeongbuk Open. Photo by KPGA

Ok Taehoon has unforgettable memories of the Gyeongbuk Open. With his victory at this event last year, he achieved three wins in the season and swept various titles, including the Genesis Grand Prize, the top spot in the prize money ranking, the Deokchun Award (Lowest Stroke Average), the Top 10 Finishes Award, and the Most Improved Player Award. He appeared to carry this momentum into the current season as well, finishing second at the DB Insurance Promy Open, his first appearance of the year.

However, Ok Taehoon's momentum was disrupted when he was disqualified at the second tournament of the season, the Woori Financial Championship, held last month. In the second round, he made a rare quintuple bogey on the fifth hole by shooting five strokes over par, and on the seventh hole, he was disqualified after failing to hole out when he ran out of prepared balls. In the following event, the GS Caltex Maekyung Open, he finished tied for 49th, and at last week's KPGA Founders Cup, he finished tied for 46th, showing disappointing results.

Ok Taehoon is looking to make a comeback at the Gyeongbuk Open, where he has fond memories of last year's victory. He said, "Overall, my shots and putting haven't been great, but I'm working very hard to find my touch again." He added, "My condition has always improved from around mid-May, and although the expectations around me are a burden, I will overcome them and achieve a good result."

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