"I became much tougher after going through hardships at LIV Golf last year. The way I think and practice has changed. Most importantly, I believe my mental game has grown significantly. This season, you'll see a much more mature Jang Yu-bin."
Jang Yu-bin (24, Shinhan Financial Group) made these remarks in a recent interview with The Seoul Economic Daily at a cafe in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. "I took a lot of hits at LIV, so I want to show a different side of myself on the domestic tour this year," he said. "In 2024 on the KPGA Tour, I played aggressively without any course management—just charging ahead recklessly. This year, I won't play like a fool. I'll show strategic course management rather than reckless play."
Jang has recorded three career victories on the KPGA Tour, including one as an amateur in 2023. He also won a gold medal in the team event at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games. In 2024, he claimed two wins on the KPGA Tour and swept six titles—the Grand Prize, money title, lowest stroke average, longest drive, top-10 finishes, and most improved player awards—dominating the domestic scene. Riding this momentum, he moved to LIV Golf the following year to compete against world-class players.
Playing alongside global stars such as Jon Rahm (Spain), Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, and Brooks Koepka (all from the United States), Jang received quite a shock. "Everywhere I looked, there was a former world No. 1," he recalled. "I didn't feel a huge gap in ball-striking, but in the short game, I hit a wall—I felt like no matter how well I played, I couldn't match them." He added, "To break through that wall, I shifted my practice to focus on the short game. Out of five hours of practice, I spend only one hour on full shots and invest the rest in approach shots and putting."
Despite reaching the peak domestically, Jang failed to make a significant impact at LIV Golf. His best finish was a tie for 21st place. After ending the season in the relegation zone, he chose to return to the domestic tour rather than attempt another year at LIV. However, Jang does not define his LIV experience as a failure. "I don't regret my year at LIV Golf at all. If the same opportunity came again, I would take it," he said. "It wasn't failure—it was a process of growth. Before, I just thought, 'I need to practice.' Now I can see exactly what I need to work on. I also learned a lot about course management by watching world-class players up close."
He singled out Bryson DeChambeau, Patrick Reed, and Richard Bland (England) as players who left a particular impression. "Richard Bland and I once stayed on the green practicing until sunset, just the two of us. I was amazed that a veteran in his 50s would practice until the very end," Jang said. "There's an image of LIV as a 'party league,' but that's not true at all. Players compete through Sunday, fly to the next location, and start practicing again on Monday. Most players practice until the range closes."
Jang's goals for his return to the domestic tour are clear: reclaim the KPGA Tour Genesis Grand Prize and reach the PGA Tour. "This year, I plan to compete on the KPGA Tour, win back the Genesis Grand Prize, and then challenge myself again at the PGA Tour Qualifying School at the end of the year," he said. "I want to pour everything I have into achieving my goals while I'm still young." He emphasized, "This year on the KPGA Tour, I want to play golf with the same fun and joy as in 2024, reclaim the Genesis Grand Prize, reach the PGA Tour, and surpass the me of 2024."
He also expressed particular affection for the Gunsan CC Open, where he won back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024. "I won two consecutive years at the Gunsan CC Open. I wasn't there last year, but I'm back this year. I want to prove once again that I'm the king of Gunsan."
