Jeunghun Wang returns to the place where his meteoric rise to the top 50 in the world began as the prodigious Korean defends his Trophée Hassan II title this week in the regal surroundings of Royal Golf Dar Es Salam in Rabat.
The 21 year old won his maiden European Tour title in Morocco in sensational fashion last year as he holed a birdie putt at the final hole to force a play-off with Spain’s Nacho Elvira, before emerging victorious after sinking two more monster birdie putts in the two extra holes.
Wang followed that victory with another win just a week later in Mauritius before claiming his third career title at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters earlier this year, which helped move him to within the top 50 in the world and earn a spot at last week’s Masters Tournament.
The World Number 48 joins a strong field which includes two Major winners in Canada’s Mike Weir and YE Yang of Korea, former European Tour Number One Robert Karlsson and The 2018 Ryder Cup Captain Thomas Bjørn.
Player quotes:
Jeunghun Wang
“I’m quite tired coming into this week as I have played some big tournaments in the Unites States, but I’m really happy to be back here and it’s a great tournament to play in.
“Last year it was really tough conditions but I think this year it will be difficult too because the course is a bit tighter and it’s long too. If I play my own game though, maybe I can give myself a chance to win again.
“I can hardly remember how I won it last year but I holed three great putts and that was really lucky so hopefully I will get a little bit more luck this year too.
“I got another win this year too and it’s been a great year but everything started in Morocco, so it’s still the best win I’ve had because it was my first one on the European Tour.
“Augusta is my dream golf course and my dream tournament so I’m so happy to have played there, it was a great experience.”
Richie Ramsay
“I’ve played this course before and it’s a stunning golf course. I obviously have some great memories of the course in the palace at Agadir where I won but it’s nice to be out here at this time of the year when it’s a little cooler in Scotland. You always get good vibes coming to a tournament you’ve won before.
“You’re going to have to play really well this week, ball-striking is going to be really important and it’s tricky around the greens but I think keeping it in play off the tee is a major thing. It’s quite tight in places and if you just miss the fairways, the ball tends to kick away into the trees.”
Pablo Larrazábal
“This is one of the best golf course we play, it’s very good. It’s tight and you have to shape the ball from the tee. You have to be very straight and precise with your second shots.
“They are small and slopey greens so you have to put the ball in the right places. It’s going to demand a lot of things of your game to shoot low this week. It’s a bit of a Moroccan Valderrama, the same kind of trees and the same kind of positions from the tees and the second shot has to be very good to create some birdie chances.
“We’ve had a little break. I played five weeks ago in Mexico so I’ve had a few weeks of practice back home and my game is ready to rock and roll.”
Dean Burmester
“I think it’s world-class this week to be honest, the whole facility from the clubhouse to the players’ lounge with the men and the ladies in there is great.
“The golf course itself is unbelievable, they are some of the best par threes in the world. That ninth hole was like a four or five iron to an island green last year with all the wind and rain, so it was tough.
“It’s demanding off the tee, you’ve got to drive it really well. It’s kikuyu grass once again so it’s nice to chip and putt off.
“My win (at the Tshwane Open) was massive, to be here playing the European Tour and competing with some of the best players in the world. It’s sunk in now, I’ve had quite a lot of time off and it was really nice spending that time with my family. I’m looking forward to getting back and competing and hopefully win another one.”
