Jeunghun Wang – or ‘Wang’ as he is known on Tour –wrote a little bit of history earlier this year by becoming the third-youngest player to win three European Tour titles (behind Matteo Manassero (19) and Seve Ballesteros (20)) and did so in the calmest of fashions, defeating Joakin Lagergren and Jaco Van Zyl in a play-off on the first extra hole of a play-off at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters. The 21-year-old is loving life week by week on Tour and Worldwide Golf sat down with the likeable happy-go-lucky youngster at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic to ask him about his life so far.
Getting into the game:
I followed my father. He is also a professional golfer. I started when I was 11 years old. I’d follow him to the driving range and to the course and just hit some balls and play.
Early days of golf in Korea:
Yes it was big back then and right now it is massive. It has gotten a lot bigger in the last decade or so.
Golfing idol:
Tiger Woods was my idol. My favourite thing about him is his fist-pump. I love that. I played the Tiger Woods golf games on the computer when I was younger and I love them. Now, I don’t play the golf games as much, I play FIFA football and I’m always FC Barcelona. I don’t really like football though – only in the game (laughs).
What would you say to Tiger:
Hello Tiger, I am Wang (laughs hysterically).
Making it on the European Tour:
I finished second at the Indian Open and my money ranking was quite high. I tried to get some invites to tournaments and I got one to play in the Trophée Hassan II in Morocco and I won the event – and I’ve just kept on playing since!
On winning the Qatar Masters:
It was really fantastic. My dream tournament is the Masters and I think my win in Qatar improves my ranking enough so I will, hopefully, play in my first Masters this year, so I am very happy and very excited.
On playing in the Middle East:
The weather is good – I like the courses too, and when I have some time off I like to go shopping to the Dubai Mall. I like to buy stuff (laughs some more).
On putting:
Well, my putting used to be a weakness, but I changed my grip and I seem to hole the short putts more now and miss less.
Where will you be in five years?
I hope I play on the US PGA Tour and in all the big tournaments – I hope to win plenty of tournaments!
