Opinion & Analysis

Bae’s win could be preview of things to come

Published

13 years ago

May 20, 2013

For South Korea’s Sang-Moon Bae, his first win on the PGA Tour will be one to remember.

Not only did he overcome a 6-shot deficit after the first round to win the Byron Nelson Classic, but he overtook long-time South Korean idol KJ Choi — No.92 in the Official Golf World Rankings — by jumping 42 places to No. 64. He also joined the growing list of first-time winners on Tour, becoming the seventh in 2013.

For Bae, a second-year pro, it completes a remarkable journey. After earning his stripes on Asian tours with 11 professional victories, he made the decision two years ago to try and break into golf’s toughest tours. He had to embark on a complete change of lifestyle in America to live his dream as a professional golfer on the PGA Tour. This not only meant learning to speak English but getting used to playing against the best players in the world on a weekly basis.

While his golf swing was impressive at the Byron Nelson Classic, it was his putting that demonstrated the real strength in his golf game. He finished the week first in putts per green in regulation and No. 2 in strokes gained in putting. This backs up his No. 18-ranking on Tour in strokes gained putting, which makes him a force to be reckoned with in every event he enters.

Although his English in his own words “is still a work in progress,” he made the following comment in his post round interview:

“It’s something I’ve always dreamed of, winning on the PGA Tour,” Bae said. “It was surreal to have Mrs. (Peggy) Nelson there and with all the history … I was in awe, actually, so almost I didn’t know how to react.”

Bae’s coach Rick Smith said this about him:

“It just proved what was in his heart,” Smith said. “He went from looking like he was going to lose it — after the two-shot swing at 15 — to gaining it back again. He proved a lot to himself. He’ll remember how he went right after Keegan. This is just the beginning of an incredible career for this young man. He’s an amazing talent, he’s an amazing kid.”

Smith also said after Bae blew his birdie putt at No. 18 three feet past instead of lagging it, “it’s just him, he doesn’t have any let up in him, he was trying to make another birdie.”

At just 26 years old and his first victory in the bag, you get the feeling there is plenty more to come.

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Troy Vayanos

Troy Vayanos was born and still resides in Brisbane, Australia. He has been a passionate golfer for more than 25 years and loves learning and increasing his knowledge of the golf swing. He lives and breathes golf from his local golf course to the professional tours around the world. His website Hitting It Solid delivers the latest golf instruction that helps you break 100 and beyond. You’ll also learn the 7 critical steps you must know to play better golf today.

4 Comments

Troy Vayanos

May 21, 2013 at 7:04 am

Thanks Rich,

Yes I would love to see guys like Mickelson, Kuchar, Bradley and Johnson head overseas more often. I guess it just depends on their schedules but would do wonders for the game worldwide.

Cheers

Reply Report comment
Rich

May 21, 2013 at 1:35 am

Too right Troy and G, spot on. It’s been great to see more guys from the PGA tour head overseas to play like Bo Van Pelt, Jason Dufner and Brandt Snedeker even went to the Volvo Matchplay last year I think. More of them should do it. Well done SMB!

Reply Report comment
Troy Vayanos

May 20, 2013 at 4:24 pm

You’re right G,

It would have been easy for him to stay in Asia and dominate for the next 10 years of his career. He took a huge risk and backed himself to perform and it’s paid off big time.

I think to become a world class player you need to stretch yourself and prove you can win on more than one continent.

Cheers

Reply Report comment
G

May 20, 2013 at 12:51 pm

Yeah. Rock solid. And his worldly living and travels, and world victories, are all helping him to be way ahead of the game against guys on Tour who have not really left their homes to play elsewhere.

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Opinion & Analysis

AVL: My U.S. Amateur local qualifying experience

Published

5 days ago

Jun 5, 2026

Andrew Von Lossow

This past Monday, I played in the U.S. Amateur local qualifier at Rock Creek Country Club in Portland, Oregon. A full tee sheet from 7:30 a.m. to 1:55 p.m., the top 11 scores would make it to the U.S. Amateur final qualifying.

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Getting to the highlight of the round on the par five 17th, a drive up the left side and 212 yards left to the front hole location. I took out a 5-iron with plans of middle of the green. The ball ended up 8 feet left of the hole, pin high. A slight downhill putt dropped in for an eagle 3 on the 17th. With the cut line looking to be anywhere from -2 to even par. This was the boost I had been waiting for all day.

With making par from the trees on 18, it was time to wait for a potential playoff with a posted score of one under par 71.

Three hours later, it was playoff time. 8 players for 6 spots. I made par on the playoff hole, which was good enough to advance to the U.S. Amateur final qualifying in July. USGA qualifiers sure deliver on all of the emotions in golf!

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