Byeong-hun An has been earmarked as a future star of the game ever since becoming the youngest player to win the prestigious US Amateur Championship back in 2009, at the age of 17, and after three years of hard graft on the European Challenge Tour, the Korean is ready to make his mark on The Race to Dubai.
The 23 year old, whose parents are both Olympic medallists in table-tennis, has long been regarded as an exciting prospect but only this year will have the opportunity to flex his muscles among the big guns as he plays his rookie campaign on The European Tour.
He has wasted no time in taking his second tier form onto the main stage either, having already posted a tie for 22nd place finish last week at the Alfred Dunhill Championship played at Leopard Creek.
It was a similar finish to his share of 26th at The Open Championship last year, a result which proved the catalyst for a season-defining purple patch on the Challenge Tour and him becoming the first Korean winner on the second tier, the man commonly known as ‘Ben’ is keen to carry that form into the new season.
Having followed his friend Peter Uihlein by beginning his professional career in Europe, An admits it has been a longer journey to the top than he might have imagined, but he feels he is now ready to prove it was all worth it.
“It feels great to be there,” said the American-based player. “I’ve been waiting for it for three years now. Finally I’ll be playing on The European Tour and hopefully to go out and play well and make the most out of it.
“My first goal is just to make the top 110 and keep my card and then my next goal is top 60 and ultimately to win. I just want to keep my card next year though.
“I played really well at The Open and that gave me a lot of confidence, and I’ve been playing well since then I think. A lot of people have been telling me that I’m good enough to go out and compete with the big boys and I belong there.
“That definitely boosted me and I know I can do well if I bring my A-game, so I’m looking forward to hopefully doing that next year.
“It was one of the tournaments where I just played really smart, I don’t think I hit it in a bunker once all week. That was my goal, to stay out of the bunkers, and then I would get some good birdie chances.
“It was a Major so it was a totally different experience to the couple of European Tour events that I’ve played. I feel like there were crowds everywhere and the atmosphere walking down 18 in the final round was amazing.
“I think you can get pretty nervous in situations like that but on the bright side, they cheer for you and you can get a boost from that. I love having people watch me play and I really want to impress them.”
One thing that has impressed in recent years was An’s patience as he slowly grew his game and his confidence in the paid ranks, travelling to many far out places around the world on the Challenge Tour.
The decision to begin his professional career on Europe’s second tier came courtesy of some advice from Uihlein’s father Wally, Chief Executive of one of the biggest golf retail companies in the world, and he admits that they were wise words which will stand him in good stead throughout his career.
“It’s probably the best advice I’ve ever had and it worked out I guess,” he said. “I suppose I’m trying to follow in the footsteps of Peter and Brooks (Koepka), graduating through the Challenge Tour, getting on The European Tour and playing well there, then play well in the Majors and the main events.
“I think it’s the best way to do it, get your experience on the Challenge Tour and European Tour. It’s about time I moved up I think, but the plan is going well so far.”
As for those sporting genes, An credits much of his highly competitive spirit to the influence of his parents, who both competed at the 1988 Summer Olympics - his mother Jiao Zhimin representing China, his father Ahn Jae-hyung representing Korea.
“I guess I have it in me, I’m a really competitive person,” he admitted. “I think it just comes naturally, I suppose it’s in my blood! It’s not like I try to be competitive, it just comes out in me when I start playing golf. It definitely helps me, motivates me, and I look at what my parents have done and they help me to. They’ve definitely been an inspiration.”
