Korean Tour

Last updated
Korean Tour
Current season, competition or edition:
Golf current event.svg 2024 Korean Tour
FormerlySBS Korean Tour
Sport Golf
Founded1978
First season1978
CountriesBased in South Korea [a]
Most titlesOrder of Merit titles:
Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg Choi Sang-ho (9)
Tournament wins:
Flag of South Korea (1997-2011).svg Choi Sang-ho (43)
Official website www.kpga.co.kr

The Korean Tour is a men's professional golf tour run by the Korea Professional Golfers' Association (KPGA) of South Korea. In 2011, it had total prize money of about US$14 million.

Contents

Professional golf in Korea dates back to the mid 20th century. The Korean Professional Golf Championship and the Korean Open were launched in 1958 and the KPGA was founded in 1963. Various other tournaments were created over the following decades.

The KPGA's tours serve as feeders for richer tours around the world. Substantial numbers of Korean golfers have played on the Asian Tour and the Japan Golf Tour, and a few have made it onto the PGA Tour or the European Tour. Notable examples include Yang Yong-eun, who was the first Korean to win a men's major golf championship, and K. J. Choi, the first Korean-born PGA Tour winner whose most notable win was the 2011 Players Championship.

In June 2004, the tour signed a title sponsorship agreement with Seoul Broadcasting System, being renamed as the SBS Korean Tour. The agreement was reported to be worth ₩ 15,000,000,000 over five years. [1]

In December 2022, it was announced by the European Tour that the KPGA had extended their partnership with them and the PGA Tour. As part of the expansion, the leading player on the Korean Tour Order of Merit was given status onto the European Tour for the following season. [2]

Main tour

In 2011, there were 17 events on the main tour. All these tournament have prize funds of at least 300 million won (approximately US$300,000). Four have prize funds of 1 billion won (US$1 million) while the Ballantine's Championship has a prize fund of 2.2 million euros (approximately US$3.1 million). Total prize money for the tour is approximately 12 billion won (US$12 million).

Until 2011, regular Korean Tour events did not carry Official World Golf Ranking points. The first regular tournament to carry World Rankings Points was the 2011 Twayair Open. [3] Korean Tour events carry a minimum of nine OWGR points for the winner, increased from six in 2016.

Other KPGA tours

The KPGA launched a developmental tour in 1999. In 2007 there are two developmental tours. Both of them consist of two-day, 36-hole tournaments, and the dates of the tours do not clash. The Bear River Tour consists of ten tournaments with prize funds of 60 million won (US$60,000) each, and the SBS Golf Calloway Tour has eight tournaments with prize funds of 40 million won (US$40,000) each.

The KPGA also runs a senior tour and a series of events for teaching pros. The Korean Senior Open Golf Championship was launched in 1996.

Women's professional golf has a high profile in South Korea, due to the immense international success of Korean women golfers such as Pak Se-ri since the mid-1990s. There is a separate LPGA of Korea Tour for women.

Order of Merit winners

SeasonWinnerPoints
2024 Flag of South Korea.svg Jang Yu-bin 8,002
2023 Flag of South Korea.svg Ham Jeong-woo 6,062
2022 Flag of South Korea.svg Kim Yeong-su 5,915
2021 Flag of South Korea.svg Tom Kim 5,541
2020 Flag of South Korea.svg Kim Tae-hoon 3,252
2019 Flag of South Korea.svg Moon Kyong-jun 4,126
2018 Flag of South Korea.svg Lee Hyung-joon 4,662
2017 Flag of South Korea.svg Choi Jin-ho (2)5,246
2016 Flag of South Korea.svg Choi Jin-ho 4,009
2015 Flag of South Korea.svg Lee Tae-hee 2,190
2014 Flag of South Korea.svg Kim Seung-hyuk 3,362
2013 Flag of South Korea.svg Ryu Hyun-woo 3,555
2012 Flag of South Korea.svg Lee Sang-hee 2,995
2011 Flag of South Korea.svg Hong Soon-sang 3,160
2010 Flag of South Korea (1997-2011).svg Kim Bi-o 3,770
2009 Flag of South Korea (1997-2011).svg Bae Sang-moon 4,770
2008 Flag of South Korea (1997-2011).svg Kim Hyung-sung 6,765
2007 Flag of South Korea (1997-2011).svg Kim Kyung-tae 6,320
SeasonWinnerPrize money (₩)
2006 Flag of South Korea (1997-2011).svg Kang Kyung-nam 302,623,333
2005 Flag of South Korea (1997-2011).svg Choi Gwang-soo (4)265,434,825
2004 Flag of South Korea (1997-2011).svg Jang Ik-jae 143,080,000
2003 Flag of South Korea (1997-2011).svg Shin Yong-jin 207,783,810
2002 Flag of South Korea (1997-2011).svg Kang Wook-soon (2)204,166,667
2001 Flag of South Korea (1997-2011).svg Choi Gwang-soo (3)157,959,842
2000 Flag of South Korea (1997-2011).svg Choi Gwang-soo (2)270,094,375
1999 Flag of South Korea (1997-2011).svg Kang Wook-soon 79,898,357
1998 Flag of South Korea (1997-2011).svg Choi Gwang-soo 83,234,470
1997 Flag of South Korea (1997-2011).svg K. J. Choi (2)159,063,640
1996 Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg K. J. Choi 147,271,700
1995 Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg Choi Sang-ho (9)
1994 Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg Choi Sang-ho (8)
1993 Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg Park Nam-sin (3)
1992 Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg Choi Sang-ho (7)
1991 Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg Choi Sang-ho (6)
1990 Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg Lee Kang-sun
1989 Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg Park Nam-sin (2)
1988 Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg Park Nam-sin
1987 Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg Choi Youn-soo
1986 Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg Choi Sang-ho (5)
1985 Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg Choi Sang-ho (4)
1984 Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg Cho Ho-sang
1983 Flag of South Korea (1949-1984).svg Choi Sang-ho (3)
1982 Flag of South Korea (1949-1984).svg Han Chang-sang
1981 Flag of South Korea (1949-1984).svg Choi Sang-ho (2)
1980 Flag of South Korea (1949-1984).svg Kim Seung-hack (2)
1979 Flag of South Korea (1949-1984).svg Kim Seung-hack
1978 Flag of South Korea (1949-1984).svg Choi Sang-ho

Multiple winners

RankPlayerWinsYears won
1 Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg Choi Sang-ho 91978, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995
T2 Flag of South Korea (1997-2011).svg Choi Gwang-soo 4 1998, 2000, 2001, 2005
Flag of South Korea (1997-2011).svg K. J. Choi 1996, 1997, 2002, 2003
4 Flag of South Korea (1997-2011).svg Kang Wook-soon 3 1999, 2000, 2001
T5 Flag of South Korea.svg Choi Jin-ho 2 2016, 2017
Flag of South Korea (1949-1984).svg Kim Seung-hack 1979, 1980
Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg Park Nam-sin 1988, 1993
Flag of South Korea (1997-2011).svg Yang Yong-eun 2004, 2006

Source: [4]

Awards

SeasonPlayer of the YearRookie of the Year
2024 Flag of South Korea.svg Jang Yu-bin Flag of South Korea.svg Song Min-hyuk
2023 Flag of South Korea.svg Ham Jeong-woo Flag of South Korea.svg Park Sung-joon
2022 Flag of South Korea.svg Kim Yeong-su Flag of South Korea.svg Bae Yong-jun
2021 Flag of South Korea.svg Tom Kim Flag of South Korea.svg Kim Dong-eun
2020 Flag of South Korea.svg Kim Tae-hoon Flag of Australia (converted).svg Won Joon Lee
2019 Flag of South Korea.svg Moon Kyong-jun Flag of South Korea.svg Lee Jae-kyeong
2018 Flag of South Korea.svg Lee Hyung-joon Flag of South Korea.svg Ham Jeong-woo
2017 Flag of South Korea.svg Choi Jin-ho (2) Flag of South Korea.svg Chang Yi-keun
2016 Flag of South Korea.svg Choi Jin-ho Flag of South Korea.svg Kim Tae-woo
2015 Flag of South Korea.svg Lee Tae-hee Flag of South Korea.svg Lee Soo-min
2014 Flag of South Korea.svg Kim Seung-hyuk Flag of South Korea.svg Park Il-hwan
2013 Flag of South Korea.svg Ryu Hyun-woo Flag of South Korea.svg Song Young-han
2012 Flag of South Korea.svg Lee Sang-hee Flag of South Korea.svg Kim Meen-whee
2011 Flag of South Korea.svg Hong Soon-sang Flag of the United States.svg John Huh
2010 Flag of South Korea (1997-2011).svg Kim Bi-o Flag of South Korea (1997-2011).svg Kim Bi-o
2009 Flag of South Korea (1997-2011).svg Bae Sang-moon Flag of South Korea (1997-2011).svg Kim Do-hoon
2008 Flag of South Korea (1997-2011).svg Kim Hyung-sung Flag of South Korea (1997-2011).svg Kang Sung-hoon
2007 Flag of South Korea (1997-2011).svg Kim Kyung-tae Flag of South Korea (1997-2011).svg Kim Kyung-tae
2006 Flag of South Korea (1997-2011).svg Yang Yong-eun (2) Flag of South Korea (1997-2011).svg Choi Jin-ho
2005 Flag of South Korea (1997-2011).svg Hur Suk-ho Flag of South Korea (1997-2011).svg Kang Kyung-nam
2004 Flag of South Korea (1997-2011).svg Yang Yong-eun Flag of South Korea (1997-2011).svg Lee Jung-hoon
2003 Flag of South Korea (1997-2011).svg K. J. Choi (4) Flag of South Korea (1997-2011).svg Kim Sang-ki
2002 Flag of South Korea (1997-2011).svg K. J. Choi (3) Flag of South Korea (1997-2011).svg Kim Dae-sub
2001 Flag of South Korea (1997-2011).svg Kang Wook-soon (3) Flag of South Korea (1997-2011).svg Kim Jong-myung
2000 Flag of South Korea (1997-2011).svg Kang Wook-soon (2) Flag of South Korea (1997-2011).svg Suk Jong-yul
1999 Flag of South Korea (1997-2011).svg Kang Wook-soon Flag of South Korea (1997-2011).svg Yang Yong-eun
1998 Flag of South Korea (1997-2011).svg Choi Gwang-soo Flag of South Korea (1997-2011).svg Kim Seung-il
1997 Flag of South Korea (1997-2011).svg K. J. Choi (2) Flag of South Korea (1997-2011).svg Mo Joong-kyung
1996 Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg K. J. Choi Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg Lee Boo-young
1995 Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg Choi Sang-ho (9) Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg K. J. Choi
1994 Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg Choi Sang-ho (8) Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg Park No-seok
1993 Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg Park Nam-sin (2) Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg Ha Young-ki
1992 Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg Choi Sang-ho (7) Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg Han Young-keun
1991 Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg Choi Sang-ho (6) Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg Lim Hyung-soo
1990 Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg Lee Kang-sun Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg Lee Kang-sun
1989 Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg Bong Tae-ha Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg Choi Gwang-soo
Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg Kim Jong-duck
1988 Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg Park Nam-sin Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg Kwak Yu-hyun
Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg Park Nam-sin
1987 Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg Choi Youn-soo Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg Cho Bum-soo
Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg Kim Sung-ho
1986 Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg Choi Sang-ho (5)No award
1985 Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg Choi Sang-ho (4) Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg Cho Chul-sang
1984 Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg Choi Sang-ho (3)No award
1983 Flag of South Korea (1949-1984).svg Choi Sang-ho (2)
1982 Flag of South Korea (1949-1984).svg Han Chang-sang (2)
1981 Flag of South Korea (1949-1984).svg Choi Sang-ho
1980 Flag of South Korea (1949-1984).svg Kim Seung-hack
1979 Flag of South Korea (1949-1984).svg Han Chang-sang
1978 Flag of South Korea (1949-1984).svg Cho Tae-woon Flag of South Korea (1949-1984).svg Cho Ho-sang
Flag of South Korea (1949-1984).svg Choi Sang-ho

Notes

  1. ↑ Schedules have also included events in China and Japan.

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References

  1. ↑ "국내골프도 내년부터 '투어시대'" [Domestic golf will also enter the 'tour era' starting next year]. The Dong-a Ilbo (in Korean). Seoul, South Korea. 24 June 2004. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  2. ↑ "DP World Tour, PGA Tour announce expansion of relationship with Korea Professional Golfers' Association". European Tour. 14 December 2022. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  3. ↑ "Official World Golf Ranking 2011 Week 14" (PDF). 3 April 2011. Retrieved 4 April 2011.
  4. ↑ "KPGA Prize Awards history" (in Korean). KPGA. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
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