LIV Golf has announced the formation of the Korean Golf Club for the 2026 season, with Byeong Hun An as captain and Minkyu Kim as a key addition. The move brings established talent and young potential to the league's expanding roster. Both South Korean players bring impressive career highlights to the new team.
LIV Golf made a notable offseason acquisition by establishing the Korean Golf Club for 2026, appointing 34-year-old Byeong Hun An as captain and signing 24-year-old Minkyu Kim to the roster. An, ranked 98th in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), has a distinguished career with five professional wins, including the 2015 BMW PGA Championship where he set a tournament record at 21-under par as a rookie. He became the youngest U.S. Amateur winner in history at age 17 in 2009 and has represented South Korea in the 2016 and 2020 Olympics, as well as the International Team at the 2019 and 2024 Presidents Cups. In 2025, An recorded eight top-25 finishes on the PGA Tour, highlighted by a T8 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and T6 at the RBC Canadian Open. His strengths lie in driving distance—he ranked third on the PGA Tour in 2024—and chipping, though putting remains a weakness.
Minkyu Kim, ranked 352nd in OWGR, turned professional in 2017 and quickly rose as the youngest Challenge Tour winner at 17 years and 64 days during the 2018 D+D Real Czech Challenge. He has seven career victories across developmental tours, including two Asian Tour wins at the Kolon Korea Open in 2022 and 2024. Kim's 2025 season featured eight top-20 finishes on the Asian, Korean, and DP World Tours, with a T8 at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters. Known for accuracy off the tee despite shorter distance, he excels around the greens and in putting. From humble beginnings supported by his single father and charities like the Choi Kyung-ju Foundation, Kim credits K.J. Choi as his idol.
An's experience and popularity in Asia position him to lead effectively, while Kim's potential could elevate the team in LIV's international events. Neither player is currently exempt for 2026 majors, but An's ranking may secure invitations.
