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An Byeong-hun excited to return to Masters after three-year hiatus

Published: 02 Apr. 2024, 14:10 Updated: 02 Apr. 2024, 15:31

PAIK JI-HWAN
[email protected]

An Byeong-hun plays his shot from the 16th tee during the second round of The Players Championship on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida on March 15. [AFP/YONHAP]

An Byeong-hun is returning to the Masters on April 11 for the first time in four years.

An, 32, qualified for this year’s first PGA major by being ranked in the top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking. He sits at No. 42 as of press time Tuesday.

Unlike other majors, the Masters invites only the top 50 golfers who go on to compete alongside other eligible participants like former Masters champions and the previous five Open winners.

This year marks the fifth time An has competed at the Masters, with his best finish being tied for 33rd in 2017.

“I am happy to return to the Masters,” An said during a video news conference with Korean media on Tuesday. “I’ve never been to the tournament with my wife and kids, but I am excited to go there for the first time this year. I obviously want to get a good result. The way to return [to the Masters] was tough, but I am so glad that I am back.”

The Masters is a static tournament, held every year at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia.

An has competed at eight PGA events this season and managed three top-10 finishes so far: A fourth-place finish at the Sentry, joint runner-up finish at the Sony Open in Hawaii and joint-eighth finish at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Before he makes his return to the Masters next week, he will have a chance to tune up at the Valero Texas Open teeing off on Thursday.

“I will not think about the Masters in this week’s competition,” An said. “It will obviously come to mind once this week’s event is over. My objective this week is to manage a good result, so I will have to prepare for it as well diligently.”

An will join the Texas Open on the back of a disappointing finish at the Players Championship last month where he failed to make the cut.

The Masters will see a competitive field of golfers, including world No. 1 and 2022 Masters champion Scottie Scheffler of the United States.

“This is not a tournament I can compete in every year, and since it is my first time competing in four years, I think how I compete there will be more important than how I’ve prepared,” An said.

A victory at the Masters will be An's first PGA title. Despite making his Tour debut in 2010, he is yet to secure a win.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [[email protected]]