Bae Sang-moon aims high for first PGA Tour season


It has been less than a week since he debuted, but Bae Sang-moon is feeling confident on the biggest stage in professional golf.

“I still feel thrilled to be here, but I feel more comfortable with my play,” Bae told The Korea Herald via e-mail.

Bae, one of Korea’s young golf prospects, became a full-fledged member of PGA Tour after passing at PGA Qualifying School at the end of last year.

He kicked off his campaign last week at the Sony Open in Hawaii, where he was the top Korean, finishing tied for 29th.

He shot three rounds in the 60s. Notably, he shot a bogey-free, four-birdie 66 in the third round to tie for eighth place. But he suffered four bogeys and got only one birdie to finish his final round with a five-under 275.

Despite the hiccup on the final day, the $5.5 million competition was a good example of why the 26-year-old from Daegu is one to watch this season.

“My aim was to make the cut in the first event. Although I missed some shots in the final round, I’m quite satisfied with my overall play,” he said.

His name might not be familiar to many global fans, but nobody here really considers him a true rookie since he is already an established Asian Tour player.

The 180 cm-tall Korean, who turned pro in 2004, already has 11 titles under his belt, though all of them came in Asia, and he is currently ranked No. 34 in the world.

The highlight for Bae came last year when he won the Japan Open Championship which, coupled with good results earlier, assured him of finishing atop the money list on the Japan Tour and moving on to the PGA Tour.

“I’ve been dreaming of playing on the PGA Tour since I was a junior,” he said.

Becoming a full-time PGA Tour member was not easy. He had to get through qualifying school, a six-round competition which is regarded as one of the hardest tests in golf.

Playing a full-season in the U.S., however, seems more difficult. One week he has to be on one side of the country, and the next week at the opposite end to cover the grueling tour. Unlike other top golfers, he doesn’t have an agent to look after his schedule.

“A good friend of mine is helping me book flights and accommodation, and most of the tournaments provide a ride during the competition. So I have had no problem so far,” he said.

But the Korean native admits he needs to overcome the language barrier.

“I can understand English a little bit, but can’t speak well. I’d like to become friends with other players, so I can learn English more quickly.”

Bae is currently staying in California for the Humana Challenge, which takes place at La Quinta Country Club and the Palmer and Nicklaus Private Courses until Jan. 22.

Bae is aiming to make an immediate impact in his first season. He missed the opportunity last week, but is aiming for a better showing this week at the $5.6 million tournament.

The good news, he said, is that he is already familiar with the tournament venue.

“La Quinta is where I played Q School last December, I feel quite comfortable here, and I’m really looking forward to playing,” he said.

By Oh Kyu-wook
(596story@heraldcorp.com)