By Matt Smith
There were plenty of reasons for the local fans to get the flags out at the Asian Tour International Series Korea as for homegrown talents held the top four spots at the halfway point of the $1.5 million tournament on Jeju Island.

Bio Kim and Taehoon Ok are tied at the top after two rounds thanks to a respective 63 and 64 on Friday. They moved to 10-under at Lotte Skyhill Country Club.

Hanbyeol Kim signed for a 66 to sit two shots back, while his compatriot Yoseop Seo returned the same score and is one stroke further adrift. Bio made nine birdies and dropped just one shot to put himself in the perfect position to win his second Asian Tour event at the weekend, having been triumphant in the GS Caltex Maekyung Open, also in Korea, in May.

“It is really great having my family here, we are having fun here,” the 31-year-old said. “It’s a family trip which allows me to get away from golf for a bit. I think I was thinking too much the past month, it shows I should do that a little more often.”

Starting on the back nine he quickly found his range with birdies on 11, 13, 15 and 16 before making a bogey on 18: that little hiccup only prompted him to pick up the pace and he made birdies on one, two, four, six and seven.

“My tee shot was a lot better and also my iron game, and obviously I made putts and at the end of the day I made nine birdies. I made a mistake on 18, my ninth today, but I played solid,” he added.

Taehoon Ok. Asian Tour

Ok is looking to win for the first time as a professional and made eight birdies and a solitary bogey.

“I struggled a bit on the second half but hung in there,” said Ok. “I really want to win on the Asian Tour and take my game forward and help my dream of getting onto the PGA Tour. I’m not good enough yet. Plan is to make a success in Korea first and really challenge myself.”

He came close to winning the Korea Open this year and was tied for the lead after the third round but carded a disappointing 75 on the final day and finished joint sixth place.

Ok also a tied fifth in the GS Caltex Maekyung Open to suggest a win this year is not far away.

He added: “It was heart breaking what happened at the Korea Open but I gained a lot of experience.”

Korean Taeho Kim (66), India’s Veer Ahlawat (66) American Trevor Simsby (69), LIV Golf South Africans Justin Harding (70) and Ian Snyman (70), and first-round leader Pavit Tangkamolprasert from Thailand (73) are six-under for the tournament; while India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar, who won the Mandiri Indonesia Open for a record third time this month, returned a 65 and is five behind the leader, along with five other players.

You may also like:
BMW Championship takeaways from Day 1
Dubai-based Arnaus backs Aramco Team Series
WATCH: Highlights from Day 1 of Aramco Team Series — Sotogrande
Jessica Korda smashes course record at ATS — Sotogrande
Chiara Noja set for Aramco Team Series — Sotogrande
Kim and Koepka cook up a plan ahead of Asian Tour International Series Korea
Korda sisters ready for Aramco Team Series challenge
De Jager leads way at Czech Masters as Dubai’s MG Keyser shoots 68
Nordqvist, Davies and Martens named European Solheim Cup Vice-Captains
Cameron Smith buys a new phone for fan he hit with golf ball
Josh Hill goes down fighting at US Amateur Championship
LOOK: The top 10 LIV Golf earners so far
Pavit has nose in front at International Series as Harding lurks
How Will Zalatoris’ new caddie helped him to the top of FedEx Cup standings
PGA Tour players keep code of silence over meeting with Tiger
LIV Golf aims to awaken sleeping giant Asian Tour
Patrick Reed brings defamation lawsuit against Golf Chanel, Brandel Chamblee
WATCH: Tiger flies in to Philadelphia to meet PGA Tour players
All your BMW International tee times
Tiger Woods to meet PGA Tour players at FedEx Cup event
How the new OWGR affects LIV Golf players
Chiara Noja consolidates top spot in LETAS Order of Merit
Ciganda targets Spanish success at Aramco Team Series — Sotogrande
Bio Kim aiming for unique double
Cameron Smith withdraws from FedEx Cup BMW Championship
The need-to-know rules of tournament golfWATCH: Highlights from the ISPS Handa World Invitational
Stark and Ferguson prevail at ISPS Handa World Invitational
What to make of the Cam Smith ruling at FedEx St Jude Championship
Your FedEx Cup standings
Zalatoris survives playoff for maiden PGA Tour title at FedEx St Jude Championship
Cam Smith lurks at FedEx Cup Playoffs
Doherty and Ferguson close in on victory at ISPS Handa
McIlroy and Scheffler miss cut at FedEx Cup Playoffs
WATCH: Jon Rahm’s ridiculous skip shot
Bubba resignation could change fate of four PGA Tour hopefuls
Tony Finau closing in on Tiger Woods’ mark
Why PGA Tour has not suspended Cameron Smith
Rickie Fowler in the swing with new caddie at FedEx Cup Playoffs

The post Bio Kim and Taehoon Ok go low to lead Asian Tour International Series Korea appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

It will be a bit like a home from home for Bio as this week’s event is being played on Jeju Island, where he won the SK Telecom Open on the Korean PGA Tour in June. The $1.5 million event tees off on Thursday at Lotte Skyhill Country Club.

“It’s going to be a great week on Jeju Island and hopefully, I will have a good result,” said Bio. “I have really good memories of being here in Jeju over the past few years. Of course, I won here recently, and this week is great because I am spending a lot of time with my family, which normally we can’t do as we are on the road.”

Kim is enjoying one of the finest seasons of his career having also won the GS Caltex Maekyung Open in May, which was his maiden win on the Asian Tour. He is currently in third place on the Asian Tour Merit list and fourth on Korea’s ranking.

He adds: “I do want to win both money lists although before that I really want to improve my GIR [Greens in Regulation] stats, on both Tours. We will see how it goes for the rest of the year. We just have a lot of tournaments ahead. I just have to keep my head down, do my own thing and hope to see some results.”

He has finished top of the Korean ranking once before, in 2010, a year after he turned professional. That early success prompted him to head to the PGA Tour qualifying school at the end of 2010 where he hit the headlines by making it through at the tender age of 20. His lost his playing privileges there a year later before deciding to mainly focus on playing in Korea.

The 31-year-old says much of his success has been built on a constant desire to continually improve.

He said: “Honestly speaking, I do get nervous and feel the pressure but that’s because I want to play better and better every week and improve myself. I do put a lot of pressure on myself.”

Over the past month he has been working with Korean golf coach Gyutae Kim, who has also coached PGA Tour star and compatriot Sungjae Im.

“I have had some issues with my putting the last month or so. I haven’t been making the putts that I am supposed to, but I am slowly climbing up the mountain. Hoping to see some good results this week,” Bio said.

You may also like:
Kim and Koepka cook up a plan ahead of Asian Tour International Series Korea
Korda sisters ready for Aramco Team Series challenge
Nordqvist, Davies and Martens named European Solheim Cup Vice-Captains
Chiara Noja consolidates top spot in LETAS Order of Merit
Ciganda targets Spanish success at Aramco Team Series — Sotogrande
Patrick Reed brings defamation lawsuit against Golf Chanel, Brandel Chamblee
WATCH: Tiger flies in to Philadelphia to meet PGA Tour players
All your BMW International tee times
Tiger Woods to meet PGA Tour players at FedEx Cup event
How the new OWGR affects LIV Golf players
Cameron Smith withdraws from FedEx Cup BMW Championship
The need-to-know rules of tournament golfWATCH: Highlights from the ISPS Handa World Invitational
Stark and Ferguson prevail at ISPS Handa World Invitational
What to make of the Cam Smith ruling at FedEx St Jude Championship
Your FedEx Cup standings
Zalatoris survives playoff for maiden PGA Tour title at FedEx St Jude Championship
Cam Smith lurks at FedEx Cup Playoffs
Doherty and Ferguson close in on victory at ISPS Handa
McIlroy and Scheffler miss cut at FedEx Cup Playoffs
WATCH: Jon Rahm’s ridiculous skip shot
Bubba resignation could change fate of four PGA Tour hopefuls
Tony Finau closing in on Tiger Woods’ mark
Why PGA Tour has not suspended Cameron Smith
Rickie Fowler in the swing with new caddie at FedEx Cup Playoffs

The post Asian Tour Invitational Series Korea: Bio Kim targeting unique double appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Matt Smith
As some of the Asian Tour and LIV Golf’s big names prepare for the second of the back-to-back International Series in Korea, two contenders are getting the inside track from local hero Bio Kim.

The stars have arrived in Jeju ahead of this week’s International Series Korea and for Chase Koepka and Travis Smyth, the first thing on their to-do list was get the barbecue going with Bio Kim.

The Korean No. 1 took his American and Australian mates out to a restaurant near Lotte SkyHill Country Club, host course of the $1.5million prize-fund event, which starts on Thursday.

The trio tucked into a range of different meats, all under Kim’s expert guidance, falling in love with the kimchi-packed flavour of the South Korean foodie favourite.

“That was maybe the best thing I have ever eaten,” said Koepka, LIV Golf star and brother of four-time major-winner Brooks. “I could eat this every day this week. Let’s hope we can come back here for a celebratory meal on Sunday.”

You may also like:
Korda sisters ready for Aramco Team Series challenge
Nordqvist, Davies and Martens named European Solheim Cup Vice-Captains
Chiara Noja consolidates top spot in LETAS Order of Merit
Ciganda targets Spanish success at Aramco Team Series — Sotogrande
Patrick Reed brings defamation lawsuit against Golf Chanel, Brandel Chamblee
WATCH: Tiger flies in to Philadelphia to meet PGA Tour players
All your BMW International tee times
Tiger Woods to meet PGA Tour players at FedEx Cup event
How the new OWGR affects LIV Golf players
Cameron Smith withdraws from FedEx Cup BMW Championship
The need-to-know rules of tournament golfWATCH: Highlights from the ISPS Handa World Invitational
Stark and Ferguson prevail at ISPS Handa World Invitational
What to make of the Cam Smith ruling at FedEx St Jude Championship
Your FedEx Cup standings
Zalatoris survives playoff for maiden PGA Tour title at FedEx St Jude Championship
Cam Smith lurks at FedEx Cup Playoffs
Doherty and Ferguson close in on victory at ISPS Handa
McIlroy and Scheffler miss cut at FedEx Cup Playoffs
WATCH: Jon Rahm’s ridiculous skip shot
Bubba resignation could change fate of four PGA Tour hopefuls
Tony Finau closing in on Tiger Woods’ mark
Why PGA Tour has not suspended Cameron Smith
Rickie Fowler in the swing with new caddie at FedEx Cup Playoffs

The post Asian Tour International Series Korea: Local hero Kim and LIV Golf’s Koepka cook up a plan appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

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.

You may also like:
Tiger Woods to meet PGA Tour players at FedEx Cup event
How the new OWGR affects LIV Golf players
Cameron Smith withdraws from FedEx Cup BMW Championship
The need-to-know rules of tournament golf
WATCH: Highlights from the ISPS Handa World Invitational
Stark and Ferguson prevail at ISPS Handa World Invitational
What to make of the Cam Smith ruling at FedEx St Jude Championship
Your FedEx Cup standings
Zalatoris survives playoff for maiden PGA Tour title at FedEx St Jude Championship
Cam Smith lurks at FedEx Cup Playoffs
Doherty and Ferguson close in on victory at ISPS Handa
McIlroy and Scheffler miss cut at FedEx Cup Playoffs
WATCH: Jon Rahm’s ridiculous skip shot
Bubba resignation could change fate of four PGA Tour hopefuls
Tony Finau closing in on Tiger Woods’ mark
Why PGA Tour has not suspended Cameron Smith
Rickie Fowler in the swing with new caddie at FedEx Cup Playoffs

The post Asian Tour: Jeunghun Wang wings his way back into action alongside LIV Golfers at International Series Korea appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.