(Kasugai [Japan] = Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Kyung-yoon = Kim Joo-hyung was once a player who attracted attention as the world's best golf player.
In 2022, he won two games at the second youngest age (20 years and three months) in the history of the PGA Tour, and in 2023, he set the record for the youngest three wins in 26 years after Tiger Woods (USA), emerging as an icon in the golf world who will succeed Woods.
However, Kim Joo-hyung suffered from extreme slump last season and continued to fall.
He performed outside the top 10 in 25 of the 26 PGA Tour competitions, and his world ranking fell out of the top 100.
It was a difficult time for Kim Joo-hyung, who had strong pride, to endure.
지난겨울 결혼한 김주형에게 2026년은 매우 중요했다.
If the slump continues, he is in a situation where he could lose his PGA Tour card.
However, Kim Joo-hyung announced his revival by taking third place at the US Open, a major tournament last June, where he received the right to participate through the preliminary round, and then won the Genesis Scottish Open in July, adding a win 33 months after winning the Shriners Children's Open in October 2023.
Kim Joo-hyung, who succeeded in his resurrection, faced another challenge.
2026 아이치·나고야 아시안게임이었다.
Kim Joo-hyung has had no ties to international competitions such as the Olympics or Asian Games to fulfill his military service obligations.
Kim Joo-hyung had the possibility to participate in the Hangzhou Asian Games as he recorded the highest world ranking among Korean male players in 2023, but was unable to wear the Taegeuk symbol as the qualification was given to players selected in 2022 before the decision to postpone the tournament.
At the 2024 Paris Olympics, he started the first round in a tie for 3rd place and showed his medal prospects, but was unable to overcome the pressure of the Olympics and finished the competition in 8th place.
Kim Joo-hyung shed many tears after the game out of disappointment.
Kim Joo-hyung had another opportunity through the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games and did not miss the opportunity.
The process was not smooth.
Kim Joo-hyung headed to Japan on the 28th of last month right after the Presidents Cup, a match between the U.S. and international teams held in Chicago, Illinois, USA. After training locally the very next day, he played the first round of the Asian Games at the Kasugai Country Club East Course (par 70) in Aichi Prefecture, Japan on the 30th.
He said at the time, “I slept six hours in two days,” and “I’m trying to get through it well.”
Despite the time lag and extreme fatigue, Kim Joo-hyung focused on the competition with superhuman strength.
He was tied for 7th place, two strokes behind the leader in the first round, but improved his ranking to a tie for 5th place in the second round, and rose to the sole lead in the third round when he regained his condition. In the final four rounds, he narrowly outpaced the second place group and won the gold medal with a final total of 18 under par, 262 strokes.
By winning this tournament, Kim Joo-hyung received military service benefits and was able to continue his PGA Tour activities in a stable manner.
2026 will remain the most brilliant year in Kim Joo-hyung's player life.
