"I like the course environment and the treatment," says Ji-ho Yang as he travels around Japan with his 'caddie' wife
Inaugural Dunlop Phoenix Tournament hosted by sponsor "A tradition, a thrill"
Yang Ji-ho interviews reporters at the Phoenix Country Club in Miyazaki, Japan on the 15th.
Yang Ji-ho (34), who plays both the Korea Professional Golf (KPGA) Korean Tour and the Japan Professional Golf Tour (JGTO), is a player who created a hot topic by working with his wife as a caddy.
In May of last year, he won his first thrilling victory at the KB Financial Live Championship 14 years after his debut on the Korean Tour, and when he reached the top at the Hana Bank Invitational co-hosted by the Korean Tour and JGTO in June of this year, his wife Kim Yoo-jung served as his caddy. added.
After winning the Hana Bank competition and receiving a 2-year JGTO seed, they have been traveling back and forth to Japan together.
Yang Ji-ho, who met at Miyazaki Phoenix Country Club in Japan on the 15th, a day before the opening of JGTO's 'special tournament', the Dunlop Phoenix Tournament (total prize money of 200 million yen), said, "Japan is good to travel to in Korea, and the course environment and treatment are very good."
After winning in June, his performance slowed down a bit. He said, "I thought I would continue to do well after winning, but I got a little greedy. There were times when I wasn't in good shape, but I think my greed got angry." He added, "It's good to go back to the beginning and try to start from the beginning." “I’m losing. I’m paying attention to my physical strength, etc.,” he said.
The Dunlop Phoenix Tournament, which opens on the 16th, is a tournament in which Yang Ji-ho prepares a lot.
This tournament, hosted by Dunlop, his club's contract company, not only has a large prize money, but also boasts a history of world-class players, including the 'Emperor of Golf' Tiger Woods (USA).This year, major champions Brooks Koepka and Wyndham Clark (USA) will participate.
Yang Ji-ho won the Japanese 2nd division tour in 2012, and had experience playing in the 1st and 2nd division Japanese tours before this year, but this is his first time participating in this tournament.
He expressed his feelings, saying, “I have always wanted to participate in this competition, which has a long history and is one of the best competitions in Japan, but I did not have the opportunity due to limited entries. I am very excited and happy to be participating for the first time.”
“Yesterday, as soon as I saw Koepka, I went up to him and asked for his autograph. I’ve never done anything like this before, and it wasn’t a situation to save face,” said Yang Ji-ho, who smiled, adding, “Seeing these great players motivated me and made me think, ‘I’m playing with those players too. “The thought makes me feel stronger,” he emphasized. 19가이드03