Byeong Hun An may be back on home soil this week but he insists he is feeling no weight of expectation as he defends his title at the Genesis Championship.
The South Korean defeated countryman Tom Kim to become a two-time DP World Tour winner 12 months ago at Jack Nicklaus Golf Club – more than nine years on from his first title – but will try to go back-to-back at Woo Jeong Hills Country Club.
An will be a huge drawcard for the home fans alongside compatriots Sungjae Im and Si Woo Kim, with Presidents Cup team-mates Hideki Matsuyama and Adam Scott also in a strong international field as the regular Race to Dubai season draws to a close.
“It’s awesome (to be back)," said An, who took home $680,000 and a Genesis car with his victory last year.
"Being back here as defending champion is even better. I love playing on home soil.
"It’s a different golf course and a different test this week. But I always love coming back home.
"Last year I had some eyes on me. There’s not much pressure, but I’d love to have another car at the end of the week.
"No pressure at all. Hopefully I can show some good golf like I did last year for the Korean fans.
"I love the food, the atmosphere, the fans, they are very passionate. I’ve had some good food over the last couple of days, that’s the best part.
"It’s a similar field to last year and adding Sungjae and Si Woo, Adam and Hideki. It’s nice to see them playing in Korea and supporting my home event. I can’t wait to compete with them this week."
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Kim - a four-time PGA TOUR winner - is hopeful he will thrive rather than be daunted by his own sense of anticipation.
He is making his first appearance in Korea since 2022, when he finished in a share of fifth at the Shinhan Donghae Open.
With four top 20s in as many starts coming into the week, including at the Baycurrent Championship in Japan on the PGA TOUR earlier this month, he arrives in good form and is eager to try and maintain that momentum in front of his home crowds.
"Hopefully I will play good and that I can win for all the Korean fans," he said.
"It’s special but there’s a lot of pressure. I want to show them that I can play great, so there will be a little more pressure than a normal event. I’m excited to play tomorrow.
"I’ve never won in Korea, or on the DP World Tour, so I’m very excited to play."
The Genesis Championship – co-sanctioned with the KPGA Tour – occupies a prime position on the DP World Tour’s schedule as the final tournament of the Back 9 and the last event of the season before next month’s DP World Tour Play-Offs in the Middle East.
While the event provides DP World Tour members their final opportunity to compete for playing rights next season, with the top 115 set to earn cards, it also offers an opportunity for emerging Korean players to compete on Golf's Global Tour.
Alongside 90 DP World Tour players this week are 36 from the KPGA Tour.
"It’s massive (having events like these)," added An. "It’s good exposure for Korean golf.
"We have great golfers on the PGA TOUR, Korn Ferry (Tour) and DP World Tour. It would be good to see more and more as we have these events.
"In Korea we have a lot of junior golfers look up to us and dream to be a professional golfer one day. The more events we have and the more players we have in this event would be a big boost for Korean golf."
The highest-ranked Korean teeing it up this week is two-time PGA TOUR winner Im, who is aiming to build on an impressive record at the his country's premier men’s professional golf tournament.
A winner on home soil in 2019 at Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea, he finished in a tie for second in 2023 and the 27-year-old now makes a long-awaited return Woo Jeong Hills.
"Hopefully I’ll play off these good memories to end with a good score," said Im, World Number 36. "It has been ten years since I played at Woo Jeong Hills. I will give it my best this week.
"I mentioned this event earlier this year (to Hideki Matsuyama) and encouraged him to join. And he did.
"He is a global top player, having him here in Korea will be a great learning experience for many of the younger Korean players."
