Korean Star Noh Looking for Masters Trip

Noh Seung-yul

Asian Tour number one Noh Seung-yul hopes to enjoy a prolonged stay at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship starting in Arizona on Wednesday to boost his chances of qualifying for the Masters Tournament.

The 19-year rising star, who became the youngest ever Order of Merit champion last season in Asia, is relishing the opportunity of competing in the elite US$8.5 million event at Ritz-Carlton Golf Club where he faces a stern first round match against world number two Martin Kaymer of Germany.

Countrymen K.J. Choi and Y.E. Yang, both Asian Tour honorary members, and Kim Kyung-tae are also in the 64-man field headed by title holder Ian Poulter of England.

“This is my first time in this event. I am looking forward to it and would like to climb up on the world rankings. The tournament’s prize money is also one of the biggest and has one of a lot of world ranking points. It will be exciting,” said Noh.

“He (Kaymer) is the world’s second best player currently. I don’t think this is going to be an easy game. Hopefully, if I get to win the first match, I believe it will be a little easier after that.”

After priceless experiences of competing in all four rounds at the US Open and PGA Championship last season, Noh said he will not cower when he tees up against Kaymer, last year’s winner of the PGA Championship.

“Through my experiences, I think I am more comfortable playing in the States. The top players were also there last year and I believe the setting and atmosphere will not be different,” said Noh.

Currently ranked 62nd in the world, Noh, who also qualified for the British Open last season, is dreaming of teeing up in the year’s opening Major, the Masters Tournament, at Augusta National in April. The only way to do it is to win a PGA Tour event or break into the world’s top-50 in the week prior to the Masters. 

“If you are a professional golfer, you would have grown up dreaming of playing at the Masters. This is one of the majors I haven’t had a chance to play yet. Being able to play at the Masters will be my dream come true.

“That event is so special. I will work really hard to get to the Masters. If I am good enough at these two WGC events (WGC-Cadillac Championship next month), I will able to play the Arnold Palmer Invitational also in March,” said Noh.

The prodigious Korean, who has been tipped by Major winners Greg Norman and Padraig Harrington for greatness, broke onto the Asian Tour scene as a 16-year-old in 2008. After earning his card from Qualifying School, he produced three runner-up finishes and a victory to win the Rookie of the Year title.

Last year, he won the Maybank Malaysian Open, co-sanctioned with the European Tour, and also posted many notable finishes including a tied 28th outing at the PGA Championship.

He also harbours hopes of competing on the PGA Tour and plans to use his appearances in the United States to earn enough money as a non-member for playing rights in 2012.

An eagle-eyed Noh said that corrective laser surgery on his eyes in December has helped him focus better in his game as he seeks success abroad.

“It’s better and I feel comfortable without the soft lenses. I can wear sun glasses easily now and feel better playing in the wind. However, I am still getting accustomed with my new vision,” he said.

Noh’s early season form saw him finish sixth in Bahrain but Noh, ever the perfectionist and rated as one of the hardest working players on Tour, plans to clock more hours on the range to work on a refurbished golf swing.

“There is no perfect satisfaction in every game, I believe. I am trying to improve some of the skills I felt I needed to work on from the Desert Swing. I would like to win in the near future,” said Noh.

Noh Seung-yul Wins Order of Merit

Noh Seung-yul celebrated his historic ascension as the new Asian Tour number one unlike any other teenager – he rewarded himself with a sports car.

The Korean became Asia’s youngest ever Order of Merit champion at the age of 19 years and 204 days in 2010 after driving his way to one victory and four other top-10s during a sparkling season which also saw him post two impressive performances at the Majors.

It culminated an amazing rise to the top for Noh, who made his entry onto the Asian Tour after earning his card from Qualifying School in 2008 as a bright-eyed 16-year-old. He later went on to win a maiden professional title the same year and claim the Rookie of the Year award.

While many have predicted greatness for the teen titan, who grew up hitting golf balls by the beach near his home in Seoul, he is in no rush to fulfill his lifelong goal, which is to win a Major championship.

“To become the youngest Asian Tour number one, it’s very nice,” said the soft-spoken Korean, who was also selected by his fellow professionals as the Players’ Player of the Year for 2010.

“But in the future, there may be other younger players who will become younger than me at 19 years old to win the Order of Merit.

“In five years time, I want to start contending in the Majors. I am not in a hurry but I would like to become the second Asian to win a Major. The Order of Merit victory will get me into the British Open next year and if I stay in the top-100 in the world, I will also qualify for the PGA Championship and I will try to qualify for the US Open as well.”

Noh believes the high level of competition on the elite Asian Tour helped him sharpen his professional teeth where impressive displays earned him praise from his peers and the likes of Greg Norman and Padraig Harrington.

“Playing on the Asian Tour helped me a lot as we play in different countries and different courses. I had to adapt to the changes in grass, food and travelling which I think is important for a golfer. If I stayed in Korea, we would have played the same type of courses and eating the same food,” said Noh.

“I was happy to win the Maybank Malaysian Open as it allowed me to compete in Europe, United States and the three Majors. Everything started from my win in Malaysia. And when I traveled to Europe, I was comfortable with the travelling.”

Noh’s vision, where he underwent corrective laser eye surgery last week, is crystal clear that his goal in 2011 is to win on European soil and break into the world’s top-30. Then he hopes to break into the US PGA Tour.

“Next year, I want to focus on trying to win in Europe. I would also like to play on the US Tour as I think all the top players want to play there,” he said. “I am grateful for what the Asian Tour has done for my career.”

Thai star Thongchai Jaidee, a three-time Order of Merit champion, saluted Noh for his achievements. “I wasn’t anything as good as him when I was 19. It’s great for the Asian Tour that he’s coming up,” said Thongchai.

“Noh has a very good golf swing. He has good temperament and he practices hard. Before his rounds, I always see him practising two hours at the range.”

Jeev Milkha Singh of India, a two-time Asian Tour number one, believes Noh will become a top-10 player in the world in the near future. “I've played a lot of golf with that young boy and I think he's got a lot of talent, he's a superstar in the making,” said Singh.

Norman, Australia’s greatest ever player, said of Noh: ““He’s an impressive young player. He’s got a big future.”

Asian Tour Executive Chairman Kyi Hla Han, himself a former Asian number one, was delighted with Noh’s terrific rise and predicted great things for the Korean.

“Since bursting onto the Asian Tour in 2008 through our Qualifying School, Noh showed that he truly has a special talent that we all get to witness once in a very long time. We are proud to welcome him as our newest number one and believe he will represent the Asian Tour proudly next year,” said Han.

In just three years, Noh has earned over US$1.3 million on the Asian Tour to be ranked in the top-20 of the career earnings list. He is also the youngest player to surpass the million dollar mark in Asia.

While his parents still have a big say on how he spend his winnings, it didn’t take much convincing from Noh to eventually buy what he had always wanted as a boy – a sports car.

“I just got my driver’s licence a few months ago, so I bought myself a BMW sports convertible which is very nice,” he smiled.