PGA Tour veterans looking to build on fond memories in Hawaii this week

An Byeong-hun performs a shot on the fourth gap throughout the second spherical of The Sentry 2025 at Plantation Course at Kapalua Golf Membership, Jan. 3 in Kapalua, Hawaii. AFP-Yonhap

With a win and a runner-up end between them over the previous two seasons on the Sony Open in Hawaii on the PGA Tour, Korean veterans An Byeong-hun and Kim Si-woo stated Wednesday they’ll attempt to construct on their fond reminiscences of the event this week.

Each will tee off on the Sony Open at Waialae Nation Membership in Honolulu beginning Thursday. Will probably be their second event of the 2025 season, following The Sentry, additionally in Hawaii, final week.

An misplaced within the playoff to Grayson Murray eventually 12 months’s Sony Open, falling simply shy of his first PGA Tour title. Kim, a four-time PGA Tour champion, gained the occasion in 2023.

„That is my third time taking part in on the Sony Open, and I have been coming right here with my household each season. We at all times have a good time right here,“ An stated in a video convention with Korean media. „In fact, it was good to play nicely final 12 months, however I simply get pleasure from having my household with me. I would like to play a bit higher than final 12 months.“

An, 33, continues to be searching for his first PGA Tour win. However he ended the 2024 season on a excessive word by successful the Genesis Championship on the DP World Tour (previously European Tour) in Korea in October.

„I had such an incredible season final 12 months. I achieved all of the objectives I had set for myself, and it was actually gratifying to win my final event of the 12 months,“ stated An, who had 5 top-10 finishes in 22 PGA Tour begins in 2024. „However this can be a new season, and I’m wanting ahead to a contemporary begin. I’ll attempt to put final season behind me. Clearly, I’m feeling assured coming into the brand new 12 months, however I nonetheless need to work laborious as a result of this can be a model new season.“

An, who completed third within the common driving distance with 317.1 yards final season, stated he finds it more and more tough to maintain up with different bombers as he will get older. He added he did not pay further consideration to any specific space of his sport throughout his offseason coaching, as a substitute selecting to work on each shot within the bag.

„I wish to get my PGA Tour win this season and end within the prime 5 at a significant championship,“ stated An, who has but to have a top-10 displaying at a significant in 31 appearances up to now. „I would like to play nicely on the Masters specifically. I hit the ball so nicely final 12 months, and if I had putted a bit higher, I might have completed within the prime 10.“

Ki Si-woo stands on the fifth inexperienced throughout the first spherical of The Sentry 2025 at Plantation Course at Kapalua Golf Membership, Jan. 2, in Kapalua, Hawaii. AFP-Yonhap

Kim, 29, additionally stated he’d like to do nicely at majors and finish his title drought. That 2023 Sony Open win is Kim’s most up-to-date PGA Tour victory.

„I would like to win a number of occasions this 12 months, however I do know issues do not at all times go the way in which I need,“ Kim stated. „So I feel it is vital to get the primary win out of the way in which early. After which hopefully, I can get to win No. 2 and No. 3 for the season. In fact, it will not be simple, however selecting up that first win might be actually vital.“

To that finish, Kim stated he tried to extend his swing velocity over the winter. He isn’t the lengthy hitter that An is. Final season, Kim ranked 145th within the common driving distance with 294.8 yards, and he was 127th in membership head velocity with 114.34 miles per hour.

„Everyone seems to be hitting it miles now, and there are such a lot of guys with nice swing speeds,“ stated Kim, whose sport is constructed on accuracy off the tee and stable contact across the inexperienced. „I feel I had fairly good velocity numbers final week, contemplating it was the primary event of the 12 months. I nonetheless have some work to do, however I feel I’m off to a great begin in that regard.“

Kim gained the 2023 Sony Open solely weeks after getting married to former Korea LPGA Tour star Oh Ji-hyun. He’s now again with the couple’s first little one in tow.

„This might be my first time taking part in at this event with my son, and I hope I can play nicely in entrance of him,“ Kim stated. „I’ve some good reminiscences of this course. And even when issues do not go nicely early, I’ll attempt to keep constructive identical to I did two years in the past.“ (Yonhap)