New York, United States: Sixteen months after playing a starring role for the triumphant Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) team in the Bonallack Trophy, Jang Yu-bin has become the first Korean player to join LIV Golf.
The big-hitting 22-year-old turned professional late last year after helping Korea claim the team gold medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games.
His meteoric rise continued this year, winning the Korean PGA Tour’s Player of the Year award, the money title and the scoring title. He won two tournaments and recorded nine other top-10 finishes, including five runner-ups, in 21 starts.
He was also the Tour's longest hitter, with an average driving distance of 311.4 yards, and made more birdies than anyone with 335.
Now he has landed a place on the Iron Heads Golf Club team for the 2025 LIV Golf League season.
In a statement released by his Seoul-based agency, All That Sports, Jang said he first received an offer from Iron Heads in mid-November. The Korea Times reported that he spent the past few weeks weighing up the pros and between going to LIV Golf or trying to make it to the PGA Tour via this week’s Qualifying School in Florida.
“The biggest reason I chose LIV Golf is that I will have a chance to compete against world-class players right away. I also wanted to become the first Korean player to join LIV Golf. And I won’t deny that giant purses on the LIV Tour played a part,” said Jang, one of the APGC’s standout players in the defeat of the European Golf Association in the Ryder Cup-style Bonallack Trophy at La Manga in Spain in August, 2023.
“I put a lot of thought into this decision, and I am sure I’ve surprised many people with this move. I am trying to work up my courage and overcome fears as I embark on a new journey. I'd like to ask fans for their continued support,” said Jang.
Kevin Na, Iron Heads Captain, said: “As a promising young talent from Korea, I’ve been following his career for years and have had my eye on him to join the team.
“The Iron Heads needed young talent like his to push our veterans, and I’m confident he has what it takes to become a world-class golfer. Yubin’s presence shows young Korean golfers a clear path to competing globally against the best, and with an event in Korea this year, his addition is a major boost for our team. It’s an incredibly exciting time for Korean golf.”
The Korea Times said Jang had his US-bound flight and hotel booked in preparation for this week's PGA Tour Q-School before receiving an offer from Iron Heads. He admitted that the possibility of making a jump to the PGA Tour through the qualifying tournament was something that held him back from signing on with LIV Golf right away.
Jang said: “I think there isn’t only one way to become the best player in the world. If LIV Golf and PGA Tour improve their relationship, I think more pathways will open up. Look at the number of KPGA players entering the LIV Golf Promotions this year. You can tell players’ perceptions (of LIV Golf) are changing.”
Iron Heads Golf Club scripted one of the most memorable chapters in the short history of LIV Golf when, against huge odds, they finished tied for second at the Team Championship in Dallas.
Fuelled by New Zealander Danny Lee and Japan’s Jinichiro Kozuma, the unlikely finalists proved to be giant-killers, taking down two seeded favourites in Smash GC (quarter-finals) and Crushers GC (semi-finals).
Kozuma, the reigning Japanese Sansan KBC Augusta Champion, proved clutch against Smash, dropping a 10-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to extend the match, prior to closing out the victory by making a 30-footer for par on the first extra hole.
Lee, the 2023 LIV Golf Tucson champion, defeated 2023 LIV Golf Individual Champion Talor Gooch and reigning US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau in back-to-back singles matches en route to the finals.
“We’re thrilled to re-sign Danny and Jini, who were pivotal to our strong finish last season,” said Martin Kim, Iron Heads Golf Club General Manager.
“Danny is a proven winner in this league with great energy and Jini’s emerging talent will be essential as we strive to become a contender at every event. I’m really loving our roster with the addition of our new young gun [Jang]. It’s going to be a fun ride next season,” added Kim.
This off-season, the team will report to a two-week training camp in Palm Springs, California prior to kicking off the season at LIV Golf Riyadh from February 6-8.
Given LIV Golf’s recent market expansion for the 2025 season, the Iron Heads will look ahead to their own ‘home event’ as they play host at LIV Golf Korea at the iconic Jack Nicklaus Golf Club from May 2-4.