Younghan Song, the star of the Korean Golf Club, has seamlessly continued his past successes at the Caledonian Golf Club. He's back at one of his favorite International Series venues and gets off to a really strong start. The Korean, who finished second at last year's International Series Japan, kicked off this year with a round of 6-under 65. This puts him in a tie for second place with Thailand's Poom Saksansin, just one stroke behind leader Hongtaek Kim. What a sensational round!
On a course that clearly suits him, Song draws confidence from the familiar surroundings. He aims to replicate his breakthrough performance from last year and ideally surpass it. "I wasn't really in top form before, but we had great weather today, which helped," said Song. "Also, I have good memories of this course, so I just focused on every shot. It paid off." He added, "It would be amazing to match last year's result – and hopefully even achieve something better."
Flashback: The 2025 Stellar Round
Song's 2025 campaign in Japan was a demonstration of consistency and nerve. Rounds of 65-67-68-69 secured him a share of second place, just five shots behind eventual champion Lucas Herbert of Ripper GC. The highlight? An unforgettable ace on the fifth hole, struck with a 9-iron from 159 yards (approx. 145 meters). That capped off an already outstanding week.
Clearly, his putting was an absolute weapon back then. But Song admits that his game has evolved over the past year. "Last year my putting was really strong, I was first in the putting ranking. This year it's not quite as smooth," he says. "However, my ball-striking has improved, so it's quite different from last year."
The LIV Golf Boost
Now competing for the Korean Golf Club on LIV Golf, Song continues to build momentum in this new environment. A really strong showing at LIV Golf South Africa a few weeks ago clearly demonstrated his progress. "I'm thoroughly enjoying it," he recounts. "It's a new environment and everything feels different. The level of competition is extremely high, with many top players, so it's a great learning experience."
As one of the golfers who have made the leap to LIV Golf, Song also emphasizes the importance of the International Series as a springboard for aspiring talents. "Just focus on playing solid golf and trust that opportunities will come," he advises. "LIV Golf is an incredible league and an amazing experience. I encourage all players to keep working hard and give their best at the International Series to get there."
