Korea’s Byeong Hun An Eyes Historic Win at THE PLAYERS Championship
THE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP
Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida – Korea’s Byeong Hun An is looking to build on his recent momentum as he aims to etch his name into THE PLAYERS Championship history this week at TPC Sawgrass.
The 33-year-old will make his seventh appearance at the PGA TOUR’s flagship event, which boasts a US$25 million purse. His goal is to join K.J. Choi (2011) and Si Woo Kim (2017) as the only Korean players to have lifted THE PLAYERS trophy.
“It would be an honour. With K.J. and Si Woo winning this big event, I would be more than honoured to join them. I wish to have that prestigious trophy,” said An, who currently sits at No. 32 in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR).
Confidence Boost from Bay Hill
An heads into THE PLAYERS with renewed confidence following his T8 finish at last week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational. He rebounded from an opening-round 76 with strong play over the final three days, signalling a return to form after his career-best 2024 season, which saw him qualify for the TOUR Championship for the first time.
“I haven’t played many events this season, and my finishes weren’t great, but last week was a step in the right direction. My shots are coming back, and my putting was decent, which made me happy,” said An.
“I hope to carry that momentum into this week. If I can play similar to last week, I’ll have a chance to contend or at least finish in the top 10.”
A Tough Test at TPC Sawgrass
In his six previous starts at THE PLAYERS, An’s best result came in 2019 when he finished T26. Last year, he missed the cut after following up a strong opening-round 69 with a second-round 80, a reminder of the Stadium Course’s unforgiving nature.
The Pete Dye-designed course is notorious for its challenging finishing stretch, including the iconic par-3 17th Island Green, which has claimed many victims over the years—An included.
In 2021, An hit four balls into the water, recording an octuple-bogey 11, the second-highest score in tournament history on that hole.
“I definitely don’t have happy memories on 17,” he admitted. “If I can just make par there every day, that would be great. I need to avoid the water on this course.”
Despite its challenges, An embraces the test that THE PLAYERS presents.
“This golf course is tough, similar to last week. I need to focus on course management and prepare well. There’s a mix of difficult and scorable holes, and the 17th is one where you can make birdie, but things can also go very wrong. The 18th is also really tough.”
Chasing His First PGA TOUR Victory
While An is still searching for his maiden PGA TOUR title, he proved he can win on big stages by claiming the Genesis Championship in Korea last year, securing his second DP World Tour victory. A breakthrough at THE PLAYERS—widely considered golf’s fifth major—would be a dream come true.
“It is my goal to play THE PLAYERS every year. You compete against the best field, and there’s a strong connection between this event and Korean players,” said An. “It’s the biggest event on the PGA TOUR with 125 great players, making the competition incredibly tough. It’s not officially a major, but it’s a career-defining event.”
Strong Korean Contingent & Scheffler’s Historic Bid
An will be joined in the elite field by fellow Korean stars Si Woo Kim, Tom Kim, Sungjae Im, and K.H. Lee. Meanwhile, World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler will attempt to make history as the first player to win THE PLAYERS three years in a row after becoming the event’s first back-to-back champion in 2024.
With momentum on his side and history within reach, Byeong Hun An is determined to make THE PLAYERS Championship 2025 a tournament to remember.