Masters Champion Watson to Appear in Cheonan... Set to Compete in Korean Open

12-Time PGA Tour Winner, Including Two Masters Titles
Aiming for First Domestic Victory at Woo Jeong Hills CC
Paired with Ham Jeongwoo and Lee Taehun in Round 1

Masters champion Bubba Watson (USA) is set to arrive in Cheonan.

On May 21, he will compete in Kolon's 68th Korea Open at Woojeong Hills Country Club (par 71) in Cheonan, Chungcheongnam-do. This is a national title event jointly hosted by Kolon and the Korea Golf Association (KGA). The total prize fund is 1.4 billion won. Initially, the total prize money for this event was to be increased to 2 billion won after LIV Golf agreed to provide a $500,000 sponsorship. However, with the recent withdrawal of support from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), the prize fund reverted to last year's level of 1.4 billion won.

With the reduction in the total prize fund, the winner's prize, which had been raised to 700 million won, also returned to 500 million won. However, the tournament organizing committee decided to add a special prize of 200 million won for the winner as an exceptional measure, so this year's champion will receive 700 million won.

Bubba Watson will participate in Kolon's 68th Korea Open. Reuters Yonhap News

Watson is a player who has recorded 12 career victories on the PGA Tour. In particular, he is a star who captured the Masters Tournaments in 2012 and 2014. With his explosive long drives and creative play, he has earned the love of golf fans around the world.

This will be his first appearance at the Korea Open in 20 years since 2006. Back then, Watson finished tied for 10th place. In the first round of the tournament, Watson will play alongside Ham Jeongwoo, the 2023 KPGA Tour Player of the Year, and Lee Taehun (Canada), who plays on the LIV Golf Tour.

The field of players facing Watson is also impressive. Kim Minkyu, the Korea Open champion in 2022 and 2024, is aiming to reclaim the title. Kim Minkyu joined LIV Golf this year and is competing as part of the Korean Golf Club. Kim commented, "The Kolon Korea Open is a very special tournament for me," and added, "This year, it's even more meaningful because I'm participating as a representative of Korea for LIV Golf."

LIV Golf members Abraham Ancer (Mexico) and New Zealand-born Danny Lee have also registered for the event. Last year's four-time KPGA Tour champion Ok Taehun, as well as this season's winners Moon Doyeob, Oh Seungtaek, and Song Minhyeok, are also in contention for the title.

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