Alongside the DP World Tour, the PGA Tour announced they have expanded their relationships with the Korea Professional Golfers’ Association, with the KPGA now a part of the circuits’ strategic alliance.

“Sungjae Im, KH Lee, Si Woo Kim and Joo-hyung ‘Tom’ Kim are all becoming household names in the United States thanks in large part to the contributions they made this past September for the International Team at the 2022 Presidents Cup,” said PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan. “What each of those young stars has in common is that they all honed their craft at the KPGA, which continues a proud tradition of producing world-class talent each and every year. We look forward to seeing the next set of young stars from this proud golf country make their way on to the DP World Tour and perhaps subsequently onto the PGA Tour in future seasons.”

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As part of the expanded relationship, the KPGA leader in its season-long points race will earn membership on to the DP World Tour, beginning in 2023. That honour goes to Yeongsu Kim after wins at the Genesis Championship and season-ending LG Signature Players Championship. Kim also gets a spot in the Genesis Scottish Open, a co-sanctioned event on the DP World Tour and PGA Tour. Other high finishers on the KPGA’s points list will earn entry into the DP World Tour’s Q-school. The tours announced they will continue to discuss promotion pathways for playing exemptions.

Additionally, the partnership sees the launch of a new $2 million tournament in Korea co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour. The event, the Korea Championship, will be played at Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea in Incheon.

The news comes weeks after the PGA Tour brought the Japan Golf Tour Organisation into its newly formed consortium, preventing LIV Golf from partnering with groups similar to their arrangements with the Asian and MENA Tours.

The post PGA Tour announces latest partnership to strengthen men’s game against LIV Golf threat appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Joel Beall
Two years ago, Sang-Moon Bae turned in the best season of his professional career, winning the Frys.com Open, accumulating nearly $2.6 million in earnings and competing for the International Team at the Presidents Cup, held in his native country of South Korea. Unfortunately for Bae, his homeland requires all males 18-to-35 to complete a two-year military commitment. After losing a court battle seeking a wavier, Bae was forced to set aside the sport for service.

However, on Wednesday Bae officially completed his duty as a rifleman in the army, and is making his return to golf at next month’s Shinhan Donghae Open, an event co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Korean PGA.

“Even though I didn’t get to play much, I grew to love golf even more,” the 31-year-old Bae said in a statement. He also mentioned he was able to keep in shape with weight-lifting and cardio workouts.

Though Bae and his team have not constructed a plan for the PGA Tour, he will have full status for the 2017-18 season through a Family Crisis and Major Medical exemption.

“I have a lot of work to do,” Bae said to Yonhap News. “I’ve been dying to play golf. I want to get some practice in and get into tournament golf. I’ve been dreaming of the moment when I find myself in contention for a title.”

The post Sang-Moon Bae completes military service, ready to return to golf appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.