The DP World Tour is a professional golf tour that takes the longest distance to travel in a single season. As competitions are held around the world in Europe, Africa, Asia and the U.S., players who use the DP World Tour often use airplanes as if they are cars.

There is a professional golfer who does not lose his smile even when he has to travel a lot every week and has a hard time adapting to different environments. He has been active in the DP World Tour since last year. Born and raised in France, but using his Korean name out of pride as a Korean, he is gradually approaching his long-cherished dream of winning the PGA Tour.

“I’m having a really happy time going around the world, unlike what I’m worried about,” Ko said. “It’s really special that I can play golf in a new environment every week.” “Maybe because it’s my second season in the DP World Tour, I feel more comfortable than last year. My top priority this year is to consistently rank high and participate in two playoff tournaments.”

Ko Jeong-won, who was born in France due to his parents’ business, first encountered golf when he was 4 years old. Having been attracted to hitting a ball at a golf course he went to with his parents by chance, Ko decided to become a professional golfer.

His parents made a bold decision to support Ko Jeong-won, who is talented in golf. He moved to a nearby golf course when he was 6 years old. Ko Jeong-won also never stopped trying to meet his parents’ commitment.

“When I was young, I think I really liked golf. I was close enough to walk on the golf course from home, but my skills improved a lot,” Ko said with a smile. “I am really grateful to my parents for their support for my dream.”

Having gradually gained fame every year, Ko was selected as a member of the French national team in high school. Ranked within top 50 in the amateur world, Ko turned pro in 2019 with high expectations. However, he failed to stand out immediately. He had to eat bread soaked in tears during the challenge tour, the second part of the DP World Tour, for four years from 2019 to 2022.

The first season of last year’s DP World Tour was rough and tumultuous. He made top 10 list at the Afrasia Bank Mauritius Open, Korea Championship and Andalusia Masters, but almost lost his ticket to the regular tour. Ranked 115th in Rays-to-Dubai, he managed to qualify for the next season, which is given up to 116th.

“I can say that I was lucky last year when I secured a ticket to the DP World Tour last year. I still remember being nervous about not being able to secure a ticket at the last minute of last season,” Ko said. “I learned a little bit about how to overcome nervousness. I will show my growth this year based on my experience last year.”

He got off to a good start in his second season. Ko has been accumulating race-to-dubai points since the beginning of this season, tying for ninth at the Magical Kenya Open last month. “Now that I know where the golf course suits me well, I can play for one season after making plans for participation in competitions,” Ko said. “I’ve already done more than one round of the earth this year, and I’m looking forward to what will happen during the rest of this season. I will do my best to make this year the best in all aspects.”

His weapon is a driver shot that flies straight from a distance. With an average driving distance of 310 yards, he is one of the top contenders in the DP World Tour, which is full of long hitters. His average driving distance for driver shots this year is 316.28 yards. “I am most confident in driver shots. I think I am not lagging behind any other players when it comes to distance,” Ko said with a smile. “I am confident in driver shots as I have the precision with which I do not miss the fairway.”

He is also trying his best to make up for his putts, which are considered weaknesses. Having suffered difficulties on the green last season, he recently found an optimal putt method to significantly increase his sense of stability after various attempts. He is a dark putter in which he strokes while holding a putter that is slightly longer than a regular putter in place on his left forearm.

“Putting was in trouble early this season, but not now. The success rate of putting has increased significantly since the use of dark putters,” Ko Jeong-won said. “I think I’m doing it comfortably after a long time. I’m looking forward to the rest of the season as confidence in putting continues to rise.”

There is also a special thing that has made Ko Jeong-won more immersed in golf recently. He is the first Frenchman to win the PGA Tour at the Farmers Insurance Open of the PGA Tour in January. “It was a huge motivation to see a player I competed with since I was young win the PGA Tour,” Ko Jeong-won said. “I am not satisfied with the present and I also realized that it is important to continue to improve. I will not stop trying until I reach the top of both the DP World Tour and the PGA Tour.”

It is expected that the DP World Tour and the PGA Tour will form a strategic alliance and grant the PGA Tour tickets to the top 10 Rays to Dubai will be a special opportunity for Ko Jeong-won. “As I can go directly to the PGA Tour without going through the conference tour, I will focus more on performing well in the DP World Tour,” he said. “It is important not to miss the opportunity because there are not such benefits every time. I will do my best to become a beneficiary of the benefits.”

The reason why she uses the Korean name instead of the French name is because she has pride in being a Korean. Her affection for Korea can also be checked on social networking services. She posted a message on her introduction column, “Korean professional golfer.”

“I was born and raised in France, but I take pride in the flow of Korean blood. That’s why I use the name Ko Jeong-won instead of the French name,” Ko said. “I studied separately to speak Korean freely. My affection for Korea will not change in the future.”

We are also looking forward to meeting Korean fans on the DP World Tour in Korea.

BY: 스포츠토토