SEOUL, South Korea (Yonhap) – South Korean golfer Baek Seok-hyun, who won his first career title at the Korea Professional Golf Association (KPGA) Korean Tour’s SK Telecom Open on Monday, credited the “Yang Grass Fairy” as one of the driving forces behind his victory.
Baek, who has been playing golf in Thailand since he was a junior high school student and played mainly on the Asian Professional Golf Tour, had an unusually difficult time adjusting to Korean grass.
Even his best results on the KPGA Korean Tour, which is now in its third year, were held on golf courses with fescue grass.
Jeju Finks Golf Club, the site of the inaugural SK Telecom Open, has bentgrass in the fairways.
“I can hit the ball cleanly on the short mowed grass, so I can hit it with confidence,” said Baek, adding that adapting to Korean grass is a challenge.
The good news for Baek is that Blackstone Golf Club (Par 72) in Icheon, Gyeonggi-do, where the KPGA Korean Tour’s KB Financial Livechampionship ($700,000) will be held on Sept. 25, has also installed fescue grass in the fairways.
It’s a little different because it’s Kentucky blue grass, not bent, but it’s mowed short so there’s not much grass between the ball and the club.
“I’m looking forward to this tournament because it’s on a grass course,” said Baek, whose confidence and shot have been boosted by his win at the SK Telecom Open, and he is eager to win for the second week in a row.
A win would put him at the top of the Genesis points standings.
Chung Chan-min, who won his first career title at the GS Caltex Mae Kyung Open with a monster long drive and has emerged as one of the hottest stars on the KPGA Korean Tour, will be looking for his second victory.먹튀검증
Chung leads both the Genesis Points and money list, and will be looking to extend his lead in both categories with his second win of the season.
Defending champion Yang Ji-ho will be defending his title after making headlines last year when he grabbed a 5-wood for a two-on at the par-5 18th hole in the final round of the event, only to have it taken away from him by his caddie, who advised him to “not be greedy and cut it off safely.”
Season opener winner Go Gun-taek will be competing for his second win of the season alongside Chung Chan-min and Baek Seok-hyun.
