Wang Jeong-hun named Sir Henry Cotton Rookie Of The Year

Wang Jeong-hun named Sir Henry Cotton Rookie Of The Year. November. 25, 2016 07:17. by Jong-Seok Kim kjs0123@donga.com. “I seized the only opportunity of my lifetime. I feel like I am flying in the sky.”

Wang Jeong-hun (21) won the rookie of the year prize in the 2016 European Golf Tour, which was held in the United Arab Emirates last week. “Upon learning from my management agency that I have won the rookie of the year prize, even before I fully woke early in the morning, I initially could hardly believe it," he said after returning to Korea on Thursday. "I am very lucky this year.”

Wang ranked first in the European Golf Tour, R&A, and golf reporters’ vote whose results were announced on the day, and became this year’s rookie of the year following Ahn Byeong-hun who received the same award last year. The award ceremony will take place at the BMW PGA Championship in the U.K. in May next year.

Up until early this year, not many people were even aware of the golfer by the name Wang Jeong-hun. However, after winning the title of the Morocco Hassan II Golf Trophy championship that he took part after waiting on standby as a candidate player, he also won the title of the Mauritius Open to win in two consecutive events, and enjoyed instant stardom. Wang recently won the runner-up prize at the European Tour’s playoff Nedbank Challenge to finish the season ranking at 16th in overall purse money, the highest among the rookie players. “I did well with putting in this season," Wang said. "I benefited a lot after changing my grip style into pincers form.” He is capable of hitting long-distance shots of 290 yards.

Wang, who has visited 16 countries this year alone to participate in championships, has been nicknamed ‘field nomad’ since he was young. He went to overseas golf study to the Philippines when he was a fifth grader, and returned to Korea as a 10th grader. But he was sidelined because his academic records from the Philippines were not recognized in Korea. He went to the Philippines again, and turned pro in 2012 when he was 16. He took part in the Chinese tour and the Asian tour that do not impose an age limit, continued to dream big despite his tiring nomadic life, and became a member of the national golf team at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, a dream that he had cherished for many years. “I would go to the fitness center to boost my physical strength even when I was participating in a tournament," he said. "I tend to be picky about food, but I tried to eat even foreign food as much as possible to maintain my physical conditions.”

After the Olympics, he was hospitalized in August for two weeks due to meningitis, and ended up losing about 10 kilograms, but made a comeback by banking on his strong spirit. “I learned a lot while playing together with great golfers such as Adam Scott. I envied them about their capability to sort things out and overcome challenges even when they were not playing good shots," Wang said. "I must further build up experience and skills. I don’t have a main sponsor yet, and it will be nice to have one, so that I can only focus on golf without worries.”

Wang will start the new season through the Hong Kong Open on December 8. "I feel shy because more people now recognize me. Rather than being complacent," he also said. "I will participate in the four major tournaments next year, and continue efforts to achieve my dream of joining the PGA Tour.”