Joo-hyung Kim (21, Nike Golf), the “next-generation star,” who is participating in the Masters Championship for the first time in his life, had a practice round with his “idol” Tiger Woods (USA) at the Augusta National GC in Georgia, the US.
Golf Digest, an American golf media outlet, reported on the 4th (Korean time), “From the 10th hole, Woods played a nine-hole practice round with Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland), Kim Joo-hyung, and Fred Couples (USA).”
In a word, it was a dream-like experience playing a round with old and new golf legends. This proves that Kim Joo-hyung’s status has changed. Kim Joo-hyung won his first PGA Tour victory at the Wyndham Championship in August last year.
And two months after that, in October, he achieved his second win at the Shriners Children’s Open, breaking the record of the youngest two wins held by Woods. Earlier this year, he signed a sponsorship contract with Nike and became a family with Woods and McIlroy.
The ‘Gentleman of the Field’ couples were born in 1959 and Kim Joo-hyung was born in 2002, so there is a 43-year age difference between the two. McIlroy is the frontrunner of ‘Post Woods’. Therefore, their practice round together is meaningful in that the new and old generations of golf have gathered in one place.메이저놀이터
Woods has five Masters wins out of 15 majors, and McIlroy has four majors, but he has not won the Masters, so he has not achieved a golf career grand slam. Couples is the 1992 Masters winner.
Golf Digest said, “The practice rounds of these star players attracted the attention of many golf fans,” and “In 2018, Woods played a practice round ahead of the Masters with Phil Mickelson (USA). He is also often with his best friend, Justin Thomas (USA).”
Kim Joo-hyung, who has revealed several times that Woods was his idol, said, “This was the first time I played a round with Woods,” and “It was so good. We had a lot of conversations during the round, and it was a big help.”
The four of them lined up side by side on the 16th hole and showed off the so-called ‘water shot’ by bouncing the ball on the water. Woods, McIlroy and Couples’ shots bounced off the water, but inexperienced Kim Joo-hyung’s tee shot flew into the air and landed on the green.