Hongtaek Kim took the lead today on the opening day of the International Series Japan with a strong 7-under-par 64. The Korean is ahead of his compatriot Younghan Song, a member of the LIV Golf League's Korean Golf Club, and Thailand's Poom Saksansin, both of whom carded a 65 here at the Caledonian Golf Club. This is the opening event of the season on The International Series. The stakes are high as players look to accumulate early points in the International Series Rankings – the leading player at the end of the season secures a spot in the LIV Golf League.
Kim, who started on the 10th hole, made the most of the easier afternoon conditions, recording an eagle, six birdies, and one bogey. “The conditions were a bit better in the afternoon, which helped,” he said. “Overall, I played pretty solid and took advantage of all the opportunities that came my way.” His eagle came on the par-5 sixth, before he finished his round with further brilliance, carding birdies on the eighth and ninth. The 32-year-old added, “I think my driving was really great today. I was able to hit many fairways, which allowed for good chances at greens in regulation. That really helped me keep things consistent.” He further added, “It might be tougher with the weather tomorrow morning, so it will be crucial to stay patient and continue to hit fairways. Tee shot placement will be very important again.”
Kim has previously won once on the Asian Tour, at the GS Caltex Maekyung Open in 2024, where he defeated Thailand’s Chonlatit Chuenboonngam in a sudden-death playoff. He is also a four-time champion on the Korean PGA Tour, most recently at last year’s Busan Open. However, he is perhaps best known as a star of Korea’s GTour golf simulator scene, which has earned him the nickname “King of the Screen.” He has clinched several titles on the immensely popular franchise.
Younghan Song already has the privilege of playing in the LIV Golf League, having joined the Korean Golf Club team this year. “I am really enjoying it a lot,” he said about the league. “It’s a new environment and everything feels different. The competition level is very high, with many top players, so it has been a great learning experience.” He finished second here last year, narrowly missing out on his second Asian Tour title. In 2016, he won the Singapore Open, defeating then-world number one Jordan Spieth from the United States. “I haven’t been playing particularly well leading up to this, but we had good weather today, which helped. I also have good memories of this course, so I tried to focus on every shot, and that helped me play well,” he added. He remained bogey-free today, carding three birdies on each nine.
Poom Saksansin’s presence on the leader
