Bae Sang-moon

On Sunday the South Korean Bae Sang-moon won his first-ever PGA Tour title at the Byron Nelson Championship. With youthful energy and a precision golf game on his side, this talented player has now joined the American winner’s circle after a successful early career in Asia. This week’s player profile introduces golf fans to South Korea’s newest champion.

26-year-old Bae was born in 1986 in Daegu, South Korea, a country known for its good weather and dedicated gofers. After taking to the game at a young age, Bae turned professional in 2004 after completing his studies at Dae Gu University. In the years following his professional debut, the young golfer enjoyed great success on various golf tours in Asia.

Two years after his debut, Bae won his first title at the 2006 Emerson Pacific Group Open. After joining the Asian Tour, the young champion was victorious again in 2007, winning the SK Telecom Open by an impressive six strokes. Bae won the 2008 Korean Open the following season, beating Britain’s Ian Poulter by a single stroke to clinch the title. He would win this tournament again the following year, beating fellow South Korean Kim Dae-sub by one stroke.

In 2009, Bae beat compatriot Ted Oh in a playoff to win the GS Caltex Open. After winning the SK Telecom Open for the second time in 2010 he began competing on the Japan Golf Tour, where he won three events in the 2011 season – the Vana H Cup, the Coca-Cola Tokai Classic, and the prestigious Japan Open.

With eight Asian titles under his belt, Bae decided to make his mark on North American golf by joining the PGA Tour last year. Sunday’s victory is a breakthrough in this talented golfer’s career as he reproduces his success in Asia on American soil and becomes a household name in international golf.

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