LIV Golf Korea Preview: Can Brooks Koepka Claim His First Win of the Season?
The LIV Golf series is set to wrap up the first half of its dynamic 2025 season with the upcoming LIV Golf Korea, hosted at the prestigious Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea. Spanning from May 2-4, this marks the seventh tournament in the thrilling 14-event league schedule.
The competitive agenda will feature three intense rounds of stroke play, involving 54 players composing 13 teams of four, alongside two wildcard participants. The opening round kicks off at 11:05 a.m. local time, setting the stage for a drama-filled weekend as star-studded lineups battle it out.
Kevin Na, captain of the Iron Heads GC, refers to this week as their team’s "major" — a sentiment shared by fellow Korean team members Yubin Jang and Danny Lee. Born in Incheon, the tournament’s hosting city, Lee expressed deep enthusiasm: "Competing in my hometown against the world’s best still feels surreal. I’m energized to play for the local fans."
With golf's surging popularity in South Korea, fans eagerly anticipate this showcase. A testament to the sport's rise, 17% of Korean adults tried their hand at the game throughout 2023. Na, a pioneering member of LIV Golf, has long advocated for the league’s entry into Korea, tantalizing local spirits with its fresh style and youthful appeal.
This event bears extra significance for the Iron Heads, who eye their first team victory bolstered by impassioned local support. Lee remains the only team member to taste individual success with his 2023 Tucson triumph. "Having three players from Korea compete under the same banner feels incredibly significant," Lee commented, anticipating that robust performances will ignite home crowds.
Set within the pristine backdrop of Incheon, the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea, a par 72 masterpiece stretching over 7,344 yards (6,715 meters), stands ready. Celebrated as the country’s fourth-best course, this Nicklaus gem transformed a once-muted landscape into rolling, pine-studded fairways, adding a sprinkle of hazards for good measure.
