Kim Joo-hyung (22), a rising star on the U.S. Professional Golf Association (PGA) Tour, has begun his preparations for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
“I’m in good shape, and I’ve been preparing well,” Kim told Yonhap News Agency on Sunday, adding that he is confident that he has taken better care of his body because he knows the importance of the Olympics.
Kim stayed in the U.K. after the U.S. Major Championships, which ended last week in England, before traveling with caddie Paul Tesori (USA) to France for the Games.
The men’s golf competition at the Paris Olympics begins Aug. 1 and runs for four days at Le Golf Nacional in Paris, France.
The course is one that Kim has played before.
He competed in the DP World Tour Kaju Open at this venue last September. His final score of 9-under par 275 was good enough for a tie for sixth place.
“Back then, the course conditions were actually soft and the rough was not long,” Kim said, ”but now I expect the course to be changed in preparation for the Olympics.”
“This course requires high shot accuracy to perform well,” he said, adding, ”Last year’s experience will help me a lot, but I’m also curious about the changes, so I’ll focus on understanding the course for the rest of the year.”
Kim will also benefit from the presence of veteran caddie Tesori, who has worked with many of the top players on the PGA Tour, including Vijay Singh (Fiji) and Webb Simpson (USA).
“It’s the same golf, but I’m a little more excited about the Olympics,” said Kim, who has three career PGA Tour victories, adding that his Olympic debut means a lot to him because ”it’s a tournament that happens once every four years, and it’s more important for the country than for me.”
When asked about his goals, he said, “I’d rather hear the national anthem than hear another country’s anthem on the podium,” and vowed to “have a good experience at the Olympics and then prepare myself well for the rest of the PGA Tour season.”
The best finish by a South Korean golfer at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro and 2021 Tokyo Olympics was Ahn’s tie for 11th at Rio 2016.
Kim Joo-hyung and Ahn Byung-hoon will represent South Korea at the tournament. 파워볼사이트