Jang Yubin Ties for 39th...Fails to Break Out of Slump

Jang Yubin once again failed to break out of his slump.

On August 10 (local time), at the Bolingbrook Golf Club (par 71) in Illinois, USA, Jang lost one stroke in the final third round of the LIV Golf Chicago tournament (total prize money of $25 million), dropping from a tie for 30th place the previous day to a tie for 39th place at 2-over-par 215. He recorded two birdies and three bogeys. Starting on the 7th hole (par 4), he had a shaky start with consecutive bogeys on the 9th and 10th holes. He made his first birdie on the 15th hole, but immediately followed it with a bogey on the 16th hole (both par 4). After making his second birdie on the 3rd hole (par 5), he finished the tournament.

Jang Yubin finished tied for 39th place at the LIV Golf Chicago tournament. Photo by Reuters and Yonhap News

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After winning both the money title and the Player of the Year award on the Korea Professional Golf Association (KPGA) Tour last year, Jang Yubin moved to LIV Golf this year. However, even after 12 appearances including this tournament, he has yet to record a top-10 finish. His best result so far was a tie for 21st at the Rochester tournament in the United Kingdom last month.

Dean Burmester of South Africa, who has four wins on the DP World Tour, claimed victory after a playoff. Although he was unable to lower his score on the day, allowing Jon Rahm and Jose Luis Ballester (both from Spain) to catch up and tie at 9-under-par 204, he secured the championship with a birdie on the first playoff hole, which was the 18th hole (par 4). This marks his second career LIV Golf win, coming one year and four months after his previous victory at the Miami tournament in April last year. He earned $4 million for the individual win and $750,000 for the team win, totaling $4.75 million (approximately 6.6 billion KRW).

Dean Burmester is walking on the fairway of the 2nd hole during the third round of the LIV Golf Chicago tournament. Photo by LIV Golf

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Carlos Ortiz (Mexico) finished fourth at 8-under-par 205, Harold Varner III tied for fifth at 7-under-par 206, and Taylor Gooch (both USA) tied for eighth at 5-under-par 208. All Korean-American players finished in the lower ranks. Anthony Kim tied for 44th at 3-over-par 216, Kevin Na (both USA) tied for 49th at 5-over-par 218, and Danny Lee (New Zealand) finished 51st out of 54 players at 6-over-par 219.

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