The Bear Lee Seung-taek, Born from the KPGA, Declares His Survival on the PGA Tour... “I Want to See Schaeffler and Rory McIlroy’s Shots in Person” [Interview]

[Financial News] The roar of the Bear echoed across the American sky. After years of perseverance on the Korea Professional Golfers' Association (KPGA) stage, Lee Seung-taek is now heading to the world’s premier stage, the PGA Tour.
On the 13th (Korean time), Lee Seung-taek finished tied for 24th in the final event of the Korn Ferry Tour. He ended the season ranked 13th in points, earning a coveted PGA Tour card, which is awarded only to the top 20 players. He is the second Korean player this season to achieve this, following Kim Seong-hyeon.
The journey was far from smooth. By finishing fifth in the KPGA Genesis Points, he secured a direct ticket to the second stage of Q-School, where he placed in the top 15 to qualify for the finals. He then finished tied for 14th in the final round of the PGA Tour Q-School, earning a spot on the Korn Ferry Tour. During his 'one-year opportunity,' he made the cut in all 21 tournaments, finished in the top 10 six times, and was runner-up once. Through relentless perseverance, he finally opened the door to his dream.

During The Charity Classic at Seowon Valley Country Club in Paju on the 16th, Lee Seung-taek, who made a visit to Korea, said, “The game management and course strategy I learned in the KPGA have been a tremendous help. They were the driving force behind my endurance on the Korn Ferry Tour.”
When he first set foot on the American stage, everything was unfamiliar—long travel distances, food, language, and the environment. After much deliberation on how to overcome these challenges, he concluded that communication was key. He studied English every night and immediately put new expressions into practice the next day. He recalled with a smile, “As a result, I became friends with foreign players. We even went to Korean restaurants together and drank soju.”
His first impression of the PGA Tour was that it was a 'world of monsters.' He said, “I saw some monstrous shots even on the Korn Ferry Tour, but I imagine Schaeffler and Rory McIlroy’s shots are on another level. I really want to see their shots in person.”
The biggest challenge, he pointed out, is stamina, due to the extensive travel required on the US tour. He emphasized, “Physical strength is directly linked to competitiveness. I also need to improve my ability to control iron shots in the wind.”
He added, “I heard I am the first to reach the PGA Tour through the KPGA Genesis Points special system. I wanted to show my juniors that it’s possible to reach the dream stage through the KPGA.”
Lee Seung-taek expressed his determination, saying, “I plan to compete in about 28 tournaments and survive until the end.” Korean golf fans are watching closely to see what kind of impact his confidence will have on the American stage.

jsi@fnnews.com Jeon Sang-il Reporter