Doha Gold Medal Golfer Kim Turns Pro

The label of “new player” does not quite fit for Kim Kyeong-tae (picture), 21, of Yonsei University, the next generation ace of Korean golf. He has made enviable records as an amateur but is training hard for his debut as a pro golfer in the new season of 2007.

Two Wins in Pro Tournaments –

Kim started the New Year in the Philippines for a two-month training session until the end of February. He is more motivated for the winter training this year than before since he is going to debut as a pro golfer in this year’s season.

“This winter is extremely important. I need to ready myself to take one step up. I didn’t care for records when I was an amateur player, but now I’m a pro.”

The year 2006 was the best year for Kim so far. He made consecutive wins in the Korean PGA Tour Pocari Energen Open and Samsung Benest Open. It is the first time in the history of Korean golf tournaments that an amateur made two wins in one season. He won the Japan Amateur Golf Championship for two consecutive years.

The highlight of Kim’s amateur career was winning two gold medals in the Doha Asian Games 2006. After winning a gold medal in individual matches, the first ever as a Korean golfer, he led the Korean team to be on the top in the group competition in twenty years since its last win.

Now a pro player, Kim said with self-confidence, “As an amateur, I already competed in more than twenty pro tournaments. I survived a tense breath-taking play-off. I feel like I’ll be able to do my best in any circumstances.”

Korean PGA Player Reinforcement Committee Chairman Kang Hyeong-mo said, “Kim will become a big player with his ambition, strong mental power and work ethic.”

Sponsorship Proposals from 8 Companies –

With swarming “love calls” from eight companies, Kim is reportedly going to receive more than 1 billion won when he endorses a sponsor.

Kim’s first experience with golf was when he, a third grader in Sokcho Kyodong Elementary, grabbed a golf club under the guidance of his father, a semi-pro golfer. In his first field game, he made a 92.

Loved in and outside of the field with his handsome appearance and refined manners, Kim is a “certified big hit card” in this year’s pro league.

kjs0123@donga.com