Jeunghun Wang Archives - Golf Digest Middle East

Asian Tour: Jeunghun Wang wings his way back into action alongside LIV Golfers at International Series Korea

Matt Smith — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 06:49:02 +0000

By Matt Smith
Home hope Jeunghun Wang is ready to make a return to the big stage at the Asian Tour International Series Korea.

The 26-year-old, who grabbed international headlines with three fine victories on the DP World Tour in 2016/17, has just returned to action having from 18-months of National Service – and it looks he is ready to pick up where he left off.

Wang competed in the International Series Singapore last week and finished in 22nd position in his first event since October 2020. He lines up in this week’s International Series Korea at Lotte Skyhill Country Club on Jeju Island.

Again, a host of LIV Golf players will join their Asian Tour counterparts, including Scott Vincent, Sadom Kaewkanjana, Justin Harding, Phachara Khongwatmai, Chase Koepka, Andy Ogletree, Turk Pettit and Peter Uihlein.

“It’s really exciting to be playing again, and I think I’m playing OK,” he said. “I’m really enjoying playing right now and I’m looking forward to playing this week in Jeju. I know the course so I think I can play better than last week.”

He shot rounds of 70, 67, 69, and 73 to finish nine-under at Tanah Merah Country Club, seven behind the winner, Thailand’s Nitithorn Thippong.

“I didn’t have any chance to practise any golf during this [National Service]. Actually, I thought I was going to play really bad last week in Singapore, but I’m still playing OK so I feel happy about that, and hopefully I can play well this week.”

It was in May of 2016 that he claimed the Trophee Hassan II, before he won the following week’s AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open, an event sanctioned by Asia, Europe and South Africa. The following year he triumphed in the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters an at one point rose as high as 39th on the Official World Golf Ranking.

“Actually, until the third-round last week I was really happy about it, but I hit it really bad on Sunday, so I was a bit disappointed,” he said.

This week he has the advantage of having played at Lotte Skyhill before.

He added: “I know the course so I think I can play better in Jeju than in Singapore, but I haven’t played any tournaments on the course, just practised.”

National Service is mandatory for Korean men: “It was a good experience, but it was too long. No freedom, so yeah, that’s the hard thing. Just shooting guns every day, training every day,” he said.

After this week’s event Wang is looking forward to playing in a few Korean events, but a return to the DP World Tour will have to wait until next season.

“No, I can’t play Europe this year, not until next year. I will probably play two more events in Korea and then I’m just gonna practise some more, I just need to practise now,” added Wang.

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Wang seeks co-operation from his putter ahead of Mother of Pearl trophy defence

Kent Gray — Tue, 20 Feb 2018 06:06:17 +0000

By Kent Gray
Jeunghun Wang, believe it or not, doesn’t “remember much” about his historic Commercial Bank Qatar Masters victory last year. Perhaps even more surprising is that the South Korea’s legendary short game isn’t co-operating fully.

The 22-year-old intends addressing his putting problems this week and will likely feel the positive vibes from last year at Doha Golf Club flood back if he does.

Wang took a three-stroke advantage into the final round last year and ironically watched a lengthy birdie putt that would have claimed the Mother of Pearl Trophy on the 72nd hole brake agonisingly shot, and right in the jaws, of the cup.

But when Jaco Van Zyl three putted the par-5 18th at the first time of asking in sudden death (for a fifth European Tour bridesmaid finish), and Swede Joakim Lagergren left himself too much to do from a greenside trap, Wang didn’t need a second invitation and coolly cupped a shorter birdie attempt.

At 21 years and 144 days old, he became the third youngest player in European Tour history to win three events. The two gentlemen above him on the list? Italian whiz kid Matteo Manassero and a bloke so legendary he needed only one name, Seve.

But Wang was so in the zone it almost, well sort of, passed him by even if he now concedes “it was a really good experience for me, an unforgettable one.”

“It feels really good to be going back as the defending champion but I don’t remember a lot from last year because all I was thinking about was winning,” said Wang who warmed up for his title defence with a T-26 finish at last week’s NBO Oman Open.

Indeed, Wang’s form has been encouraging in 2018: he was T-15 in Abu Dhabi, T-6 in Dubai and T-62 in Kuala Lumpur. His world ranking, which soared to 39 after the Qatar triumph, has slipped to No.123 after he finished 48th in last season’s Race to Dubai standings, a year after a career high 16th finish when he won the Trophée Hassan II – also after a play-off – and the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open.

Jeunghun Wang finished T-26 at the NBO Oman Open. Andrew Redington/Getty Images.

But Wang is a genuine wizard with a wedge around the greens (Golf Digest has seen it first hand after partnering Wang in the 2016 Abu Dhabi pro-am), touch that could equally take some of the heat off that recently and relatively cold putter.

“I’m hitting the ball really well right now, I’m driving well, my irons are good but my putting is not great in the last couple of weeks. If I putt well maybe I can give myself a chance to win again.”

Oman Open champion Joost Luiten and Race to Dubai leader Shubhankar Sharma, after wins at December’s Joburg Open and the Maybank Championship in Malaysia earlier this month, will give Wang a run for the coveted Pearl trophy.

“I watched Jeunghun Wang last year on the television and that was really nice to see,” said Sharma whose preparation wasn’t ideal after rounds of 73-72 at Al Moj saw him miss just his second European Tour cut and his first since the 2016 AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open.

Andrew Redington/Getty Images. Race to Dubai leader Shubhankar Sharma.

“I know it’s very windy and it looks challenging but I think I will really enjoy it there. Obviously I’m playing well at the moment and I will be hoping for another good week.”

Former Open champions Paul Lawrie (1999), who has twice triumphed in the Qatari capital, and Darren Clarke (2011) are also confirmed starters along Thomas Bjorn.

The European Ryder Cup captain has played the Qatar Masters 13 times, made the cut 10 times and enjoyed three top 10s including victory in 2011. He shared 31st in Muscat and will be buoyed that 10 of this 13 rounds this season have produced red numbers, six of them sub-70 efforts.

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Wang’s meteoric rise continues with dramatic Qatar Masters triumph

Kent Gray — Sun, 29 Jan 2017 15:01:06 +0000

Jeunghun Wang is no longer Jeunghun Who?

A dramatic playoff victory Sunday over Swede Joakim Lagergren and South African Jaco Van Zyl at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters saw the softly-spoken South Korean tag his name to a very illustrious list.

At 21 years and 144 days old, Wang became the third youngest player in European Tour history to win three events. The two gentlemen above him on the list? Italian whiz kid Matteo Manassero and a bloke so legendary he needed only one name, Seve.

Youngest players to 3 wins

• 19.6 Manassero
• 20.2 Ballesteros
• 21.4 Wang
• 21.6 Lyle
• 21.7 Garcia
• 22.1 Scott
• 22.2 Fitzpatrick

??? pic.twitter.com/9eE0GEVvTz

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) January 29, 2017

Wang won the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie-of-the-Year award last season after his back-to-back victories at the Trophée Hassan II – also after a play-off – and the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open. As lesser events on the European Tour sandwiched between the U.S. Masters and U.S. Open, Wang’s rise went largely unnoticed in the big scheme of golfing things. But that’s all changed now as he could leapfrog as high as 39th in the OWGR, propelling him into the year’s four majors and World Golf Championship events.

“This feels really fantastic for me,” he said. “It’s really, really great. I’m so happy,” Wang said after getting up and down for a birdie four in overtime to pip Lagergren and Van Zyl.

“I just don’t want to get any pressure this year. I just want to learn from the other players. I just want to keep winning, I hope. I’ve really got a lot of confidence right now, I just want to play another tournament.”

That will be this week’s Omega Dubai Desert Classic where Tiger Woods, who doesn’t have a bad record as a youngster, is the headline act. After finishing 11^th in Abu Dhabi the previous week, Wang deserves will enter Dubai will more confidence than Woods, who missed the cut at Torrey Pines in his 2017 bow, if not the same pedigree.

Every shot of the #QatarMasters playoff in under three minutes. pic.twitter.com/TUjA2xTD8z

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) January 29, 2017

Wang began the final day at Doha Golf Club with a three-shot lead but was caught on the back nine before retaking top spot on his own with a birdie on the 16th.

A bogey on the next dropped him into the play-off at 16 under and he then left a birdie putt agonisingly short at the 72^nd hole to be forced into overtime.

He didn’t need a second invitation on the first visit back up the 18th, getting up and down from the back of the green for a winning birdie after an aggressive approach.

It was heartbreak for Van Zyl, who looked the favourite when he got on the green in two on the play-off hole only to three-putt for the second time on the final day. It was the South African’s fifth bridesmaid finish in his 150^th European Tour event.

Lagergren is also searching for his first win after leaving himself too much to do when after tugging his second shot in the play-off into the greenside bunker.

“I was really nervous on the back nine,” Wang said. “I missed a lot of greens but my chipping was really good today so I saved everything and finally I won.

“I just wanted to try to make birdie at the last. I didn’t think about anything. I just wanted to try to make birdie.”

Mission accomplished. Roll on Dubai.

WITH THIS WIN – JEUNGHUN WANG

• His third European Tour International Schedule victory in his 29th official European Tour event.
• Moves to 436,150 points in the Race to Dubai.
• Could move to as high as 39th in the Official World Golf Ranking, from 60th.
• His first European Tour victory since the 2016 AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open.
• His third European Tour victory goes alongside his two in 2016 – Trophée Hassan II and AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open.
• This victory beats his previous best 2017 season performance of 11th in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
• Victory comes in his debut in the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.
• Becomes the first player to win the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters on their debut appearance since Ernie Els in 2005.
• Follows Andrew Coltart (1998 – first playing), Adam Scott (2002) and Ernie Els (2005) as players winning the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters on their first appearance.
• Aged 21 years and 144 days becomes the third youngest player in European Tour history to win their first three titles, following Matteo Manassero (19 years and 206 days) and Seve Ballesteros (20 years and 77 days).
• The first Asian player to win a European Tour title in the Middle East.
• South Korea becomes the tenth different country to win the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.
• Becomes the 17th different winner of the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.
• Aged 21 years and 144 days becomes the youngest winner of the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, beating the previous record of Adam Scott, who was 21 years and 244 days in 2002.

OTHER FACTS
• Playing in just his 29th official European Tour event, is the quickest player to win their first three events since Tiger Woods, who took 12 official events to win his first three European Tour titles. The quickest to win their first three official events was Tom Watson, who won his in eight appearances. To underline his achievement, Sandy Lyle took 37 events and Seve Ballesteros took 38.
• Joins Matteo Manassero, Seve Ballesteros, Sandy Lyle and Sergio Garcia as players to win their first three official European Tour events before their 22nd birthday.
• Becomes the seventh Asian player in European Tour history to win three or more titles.
• Becomes the youngest Asian player to win their first three titles, beating the previous record of Kiradech Aphibarnrat, who was 26 years and ten days in 2015.
• Becomes the 12th South Korean victory on the European Tour.
• Becomes the first Asian winner of the 2017 European Tour season.
• Joins Y E Yang with three victories as the most prolific South Korean winner in European Tour history.
• Led by three shots going into the final round. Is the first of his three European Tour titles where he has led after 54 holes.
• Becomes the fourth winner this season to lead after 54 holes.
• Extends his European Tour exemption until the end of the 2019 season.
• Gains his fourth victory as a professional.

The post Wang’s meteoric rise
continues with dramatic
Qatar Masters triumph appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Wang emerges from leaderboard log jam to lead by three in Qatar

Kent Gray — Sat, 28 Jan 2017 15:09:41 +0000

Sophomore slump? There’s no hint of one from Jeunghun Wang.

The 21-year-old South Korean, last season’s Sir Henry Cotton Rookie-of-the-Year, is on the cusp of a third European Tour title after emerging from a nine-player log jam atop the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters leaderboard Saturday.

A brilliant bogey-free 65 moved Wang to -15, three shots clear of South African Jaco Van Zyl and Spaniard Nacho Elvira heading into the final round of the Desert Swing event at Doha Golf Club.

Elvira is paired with another South African, Thomas Aiken (-11) in the penultimate group off the first at 11.56am Sunday but is set to resume his rivalry with Wang. The South Korean beat the Elvira in a play-off to win his maiden title at the Trophée Hassan II, with Elvira still looking for that first win.

Van Zyl is also looking for a first win on the European Tour and he joined Elvira in signing for a 68.

Thai Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Spaniard Rafa Cabrera Bello, Swede Joakim Lagergren and the English duo Nathan Kimsey and Andy Sullivan are -10 and with striking distance of Wang.

Ken Brown: "This kid has Major potential"

Best of @WangJeunghun's 65 in under 150 seconds. pic.twitter.com/OgkYONKstb

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) January 28, 2017

Wang followed up his win in Morocco with another victory at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open just seven days later, a wind swept course not unlike Doha.

“I think the wind is similar but the course design is quite different. I love to play this course so I’m excited to play it tomorrow,” said Wang who was 11th in Abu Dhabi last week.

“I don’t want to think about winning, I just want to focus on my own game. I have a good chance to win.”

Wang hit his tee-shot to the 3rd to four feet and another smart approach to the 5th got him into double figures. His eagle putt on the 9th left him a tap-in birdie and he chipped in on the 10th before holing a 20-footer on the 11th to take control.

A run of four pars followed but he produced an excellent chip after just failing to drive the par four 16th and then played a smart lay-up to take advantage of the last.

“My iron play was really good today and my putting was really good,” he said. “I shot seven under and I’m so happy that I didn’t make any bogeys today.”

Round three began with 44 players within four shots of the lead but by the end of the day that number was down to four.

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Gridlock in Qatar

Kent Gray — Fri, 27 Jan 2017 14:50:25 +0000

A fast getaway on moving day will be no cinch after Friday finished with a record nine-player grid lock atop the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters leaderboard.

Welshman Bradley Dredge, who carded an even par 72 following a sizzling opening 64, held onto his overnight lead but now has eight players for company at the summit on -8.

There was a nine-way tie for the first-round lead at The Celtic Manor Wales Open in 1997 but never before in European Tour history have nine players shared the lead after 36-holes.

Another seven players are a shot adrift and with the cut made at -2, 70 players in total have made the weekend at Doha Golf Club. Each and every one of them is a genuine chance in the filling event of the European Tour’s tasty Desert Swing sandwich.

Koren Jeunghun Wang, a two-time winner last season and the European Tour’s Rookie-of-the-Year, and Spaniard Jorge Campillo made the biggest impression on the leaderboard Friday with second round 67s seeing them leapfrog 28 places into a share of the lead.

Also tied at the top are Englishman Andy Sullivan (68), Spaniard Nacho Elvira (69), Finn Mikko Orhonen (71), Thai Kiradech Aphibarnrat (70, pictured above) and South Africans Jaco Van Zyl (69) and Thomas Aiken (68).

A @EuropeanTour first…

We have a nine (yes nine!) way tie for the lead after 36 holes. pic.twitter.com/fQYjKI6K1U

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) January 27, 2017

Among those to make the cut was Englishman Chris Paisley whose luck turned on the 17th hole when he sucked a 9 iron into the cup on the 135-yard par 3.

Paisley scored $150,000 from Qatar Duty Free for the ace and eased into the weekend at -3 after rounds of 74-67.

Ace!@ChrisPaisley86 makes a hole-in-one from 135 yards at the 17th! pic.twitter.com/ml3Ga62UD9

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) January 27, 2017

“I was in between a wedge and a nine-iron, and decided to go with a little nine-iron. I just hit it perfectly and when it landed, I said, ‘go in’, and it did, so I’m just delighted,” said Paisley, who also birdied 18 for a tournament-changing 67.

“It was a great feeling, but strange, as I went 27 holes this week without making a birdie and was three-over-par, struggling to make the cut. All of a sudden I made a couple of birdies and had a hole-in-one and I was inside the cut mark. I suppose it shows you…never give up!”

Paisley joins Jarrod Lyle and Van Zyl as the only players to make an ace in the 2017 Race to Dubai so far. It was his fifth ace but first on the European Tour and the 10th in the 20 editions of the Qatar Masters. He is the first to do so on the 17th hole since Warren Bennett 12 years ago.

Tommy Fleetwood was among the big names to miss the cut with rounds of 73-73 a week after capturing the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. Other notable names with the weekend off are Matteo Manaserro, Thongchai Jaidee (both -1) and Stephen Gallagher at +2 alongside Fleetwood.

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