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[이데일리 스타in 임정우 기자] The secret weapon of Kevin Na, 38, who reached the top of the US Professional Golf (PGA) Tour Sony Open (total prize money of $6.6 million) was an old driver that was nearly four years old.
Kevin I hit a 5 under par 65 in the final 4 rounds of the tournament held at Waialay Country Club (par 70) in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA on the 18th (Korean time). Kevin, who recorded a final total of 21 under par 259, I was thrilled to win after winning tied for second place Chris Kirk (USA) and Joaquin Neiman (Chile, 20 under par 260 strokes).
Kevin I, who reached the top of the second PGA Tour event in 2021, increased his career multiplier to five and won $1,188,000 (approximately 1.310 billion won) as the winning prize. The FedEx Cup rankings also jumped. Kevin, who received 500 FedEx Cup points, went up 88 places from 98 last week to 10th. In the world rankings released immediately after the game, it was 15 places up to 23rd place from 38th last week, putting the’Top Twenty’ entry ahead.
Kevin I said in a winning interview after the game, “The experience of playing an active part in the PGA Tour for the past 18 years has been a great help to win this tournament.” “There were several crises, but I am happy to overcome it and reach the top.” .
The secret weapon to win is the old driver released in 2017. Kevin I also came out with an old driver, not a new product released this year. The choice was right. Kevin I boasted a sense of stability on the tee shot from the first day to the last day of the competition.
In general, players playing on the PGA Tour are replaced with new equipment every year. Players who have signed a sponsorship contract with a club company usually use new drivers and irons. However, some players choose a club they like without signing a separate contract with the club company. Kevin I signed with Callaway Golf from 2019. If you continue to use the old driver, you must get permission from the club company. This is a special case.
The driver Kevin Naga used in this competition was Callaway GBB Epic Driver 9 degrees. He is proud enough to win 4 out of 5 wins on the PGA Tour with this driver. Kevin My golf bag also has an old iron released in 2016. With Callaway Apex Pro 16 irons, he won the Charles Schwab Challenge in the 2018-2019 season, the Schrainers Children’s Hospital Open in the 2019-2020 season, and the Sony Open in the 2020-2021 season.
Kevin Na Sang-hyun, my elder brother, SBS golf commentator said, “It’s an old model that was released in 2017 for most golfers, but for Kevin me, it’s a driver like a treasure.” “Kevin Na is satisfied with everything, such as the feeling at the address and the feel of hitting. “I will use this driver until I find a driver I like more.”
Kirk and Neeman were tied for second place, while Webb Simpson (US) and Mark Leshman (Australia) were tied for fourth with 19 under par 261 strokes. Among Korean players, Lee Gyeong-hoon (30) was ranked the highest with a tie for 19th with 15 under par 265 strokes. Kim Si-woo (26) finished with a tie for 25th with 14-under par with 266 strokes, and Lim Sung-jae (23) with a tie for 56th with 9-under par 271 strokes.
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