Korean teenager to make PGA debut

Kim Si-woo

By Jung Min-ho

Kim Si-woo will make his long-awaited PGA Tour debut Friday (KST) at the Greenbrier Classic at the Old White TPC in West Virginia.

The 18-year-old became the youngest golfer to pass the PGA Tour qualifying tournament, which is also known as the Q-School, last December at 17 years, five months and six days, eclipsing Ty Tryon's previous record of 17 years, six months and one day. However, the age limitation had prevented Kim from getting membership until his birthday on June 28.

Without the membership, golfers are only allowed to play up to 12 competitions, including a maximum seven on sponsors’ exemptions.

Kim participated in the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in February only to miss the cut. At the Puerto Rico Open a month later, he abruptly withdrew with back pain in the first round.

The golf prodigy said his goal is to earn his PGA Tour card for next year by finishing the season within the top 125 rankings on the money list.

With 27 events already over out of the total of 40, Kim, who has failed to collect any prize money, should step up to make the best out of the 13 remainders after his rocky start. But it won’t be easy.

For the upcoming event, former major champions Phil Mickelson, Webb Simpson, Bubba Watson and Trevor Immelman will compete for the trophy. Other Koreans golfers, including Choi Kyoung-ju, Charlie Wi and Lee Dong-hwan, will also participate.

“Kim has focused on the Greenbrier Classic this season. His condition is really good,” Kim’s agency CJ O Shopping official told Newsis. “He is full of passion to make the best of this season with more aggressive performances.”