Bae Sang-moon
South Korea·PGA Tour·Male·21st century
Bae Sang-moon is a South Korean professional golfer known for his success on various international tours, including the PGA Tour, Japan Golf Tour, and Asian Tour. He achieved a career-high world ranking of 26th and gained significant recognition for winning the HP Byron Nelson Championship in 2013, becoming one of the few South Korean-born winners on the PGA Tour. His career also involved navigating mandatory military service requirements in South Korea.
Key Facts
- ›Turned professional in 2004.
- ›Won the 2013 HP Byron Nelson Championship, his first PGA Tour victory.
- ›Finished as the leading money winner on the Japan Golf Tour in 2011 with three victories.
- ›Reached a career-high world ranking of 26th in 2011.
- ›Participated in the 2015 Presidents Cup as a captain's pick.
- ›Completed mandatory military service in South Korea from November 2015 to August 2017.
Important Relationships
- Nick Price (Presidents Cup captain)
South Korea, Japan, United States
Athlete
About Bae Sang-moon
Bae Sang-moon is a professional golfer from South Korea, born on June 21, 1986. He has competed extensively on the PGA Tour and is recognized for his success across multiple international golf circuits.
Professional Career
Bae turned professional in 2004. His early career saw victories on the Korean Tour, including the 2006 Emerson Pacific Group Open and the 2007 SK Telecom Open. He further established his presence by winning his home country's Kolon-Hana Bank Korea Open in 2008 and the GS Caltex Maekyung Open in 2009.
In 2011, Bae achieved significant success on the Japan Golf Tour, leading the tour in earnings after winning three tournaments: the Vana H Cup KBC Augusta, the Coca-Cola Tokai Classic, and the Japan Open. This accomplishment made him the second consecutive Korean golfer to earn this distinction, following Kim Kyung-tae's success in 2010. At the end of 2011, Bae successfully navigated the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament, earning his playing rights for the 2012 PGA Tour season and reaching a career-high world ranking of 26th.
His debut PGA Tour season in 2012 was strong, marked by making 17 out of 25 cuts and reaching the quarter-finals of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship. He also contended in the Transitions Championship, losing in a four-man playoff. He finished 71st in the FedEx Cup standings, narrowly missing qualification for the third playoff event.
Bae achieved his first PGA Tour victory in May 2013 at the HP Byron Nelson Championship, becoming the fourth South Korean-born player to win on the PGA Tour, joining K. J. Choi, Yang Yong-eun, and Kevin Na.
Military Service and Return
In late 2014, Bae became embroiled in a political controversy concerning his military service obligation in South Korea. A court ruled in July 2015 that he had spent too much time abroad to be exempt and must fulfill his mandatory military requirement. This led to the PGA Tour creating a "Mandatory Obligation" category to allow him to retain his tour exemption after service. Bae was selected as a captain's pick for the International team at the 2015 Presidents Cup, which was his last event before beginning his military service in November 2015. His service concluded in August 2017.
Upon his return to professional golf, Bae played in the 2017 Shinhan Donghae Open and made his PGA Tour return at the Safeway Open. He earned entry into the Web.com Tour Finals via his military exemption and subsequently won the Albertsons Boise Open, regaining his PGA Tour card for the 2018–19 season.
Professional Wins
Bae Sang-moon has accumulated 15 professional wins across various tours:
- PGA Tour: 2 wins
- Japan Golf Tour: 3 wins
- Asian Tour: 3 wins (co-sanctioned)
- Web.com Tour: 1 win
- OneAsia Tour: 2 wins (co-sanctioned)
- Korean Tour: 9 wins (co-sanctioned)
- Other: 1 win (2008 Fortis International Challenge)
Team Appearances
Bae has represented South Korea in team events, including the World Cup (2008, 2013) and the Royal Trophy for Asia (2012, winners). He also participated in the 2015 Presidents Cup for the International team.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Bae Sang-moon?
Bae Sang-moon is a South Korean professional golfer who competes on the PGA Tour. He turned professional in 2004 and has achieved significant success internationally.
What are Bae Sang-moon's major career achievements?
His notable achievements include winning the 2013 HP Byron Nelson Championship on the PGA Tour, being the leading money winner on the Japan Golf Tour in 2011 with three wins, and reaching a career-high world ranking of 26th. He has also won multiple tournaments on the Korean Tour and Asian Tour.
What is Bae Sang-moon known for in terms of team competitions?
Bae Sang-moon represented South Korea in the World Cup and was part of the victorious Asia team in the Royal Trophy in 2012. He was also a captain's pick for the International team in the 2015 Presidents Cup.
Did Bae Sang-moon serve in the military?
Yes, Bae Sang-moon began his mandatory military service in South Korea in November 2015 and completed it in August 2017. This period led to a temporary pause in his professional golf career.
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