Eight Korean golfers, including two bound for Paris for the Olympics this summer, will be in the field this week for the final men’s major tournament of the 2024 season.
The 152nd Open Championship will tee off Thursday at Royal Troon Golf Club in Troon, Scotland. The links course in South Ayrshire will host the oldest major in men’s golf for the first time since 2016.
The field will feature 158 players vying for the winner’s share of $3.1 million and the famed Claret Jug.
No Korean player has won the Open Championship. Tom Kim tied for second place last year, though he ended up six shots behind the champion, Brian Harman.
Kim, the highest-ranked Korean at No. 17 in the world, is back this week in pursuit of his first major. In the first two rounds, 한국을 Kim will play with the reigning U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau and Swedish youngster Ludvig Aberg, the runner-up at the Masters in April.
Kim will be joined by fellow Olympian An Byeong-hun, who will play in his 10th Open Championship. An will tee off with Jason Day and Rickie Fowler.
Im Sung-jae, who tied for fourth at the Genesis Scottish Open last week, will try to build off his recent momentum. He has notched two top-five finishes at this last three tournaments.
Im, who has been grouped with Justin Thomas and Matthew Southgate, will try to redeem himself after missing the cut at each of the past three majors this year.
“I haven’t played all that well in links courses, but I hope I can ride this good wave into the last major of the season,” Im said Sunday after the Scottish Open. “I was disappointed I didn’t play well at the first three majors this season, but I am feeling good about my game right now. I hope I can play better at the Open than at the three earlier majors.”