Set record as oldest first-time winner on KPGA Tour last year
'Wrist condition not ideal, but I'll overcome it,' he says
Kim Jae-ho, who claimed his first KPGA Tour victory 17 years after his debut, will return to the Lexus Masters as defending champion seeking back-to-back titles.
The 44-year-old, who plays under the Wooseong General Construction banner, will tee off Thursday at the 2026 Lexus Masters, held over four days at Club72 Country Club's Ocean Course on Yeongjongdo, Incheon.
Kim made his KPGA Tour debut in 2008 and broke through for his maiden win at last year's edition of the tournament, held at Ferum Club in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province, on his 210th tour start. He finished regulation in a four-way tie with Choi Jin-ho, Hwang Jung-gon and Lee Yu-seok, then birdied the 18th hole — a par-5 — in a sudden-death playoff to claim the title.
The victory made Kim, then 43 years and nine months old, the oldest first-time winner in KPGA Tour history. He also drew attention by wearing the uniform of his father, Kim Yong-hee, manager of the Lotte Giants' futures team in the Korea Baseball Organization.
"After winning last year I threw myself into practice to keep performing well, but a wrist problem in the first half of this season left me frustrated," Kim said. "There's pressure that comes with being the defending champion, but I intend to overcome it and show everyone my best golf."
This year's tournament moves to Club72's Ocean Course, a change from last year's venue. "Club72 is a wide, long course, so staying composed and playing smart will matter more than relying on power," Kim said. "I'll study the course carefully and prepare to put up a good score."
Now in its third edition since its founding in 2024, the Lexus Masters carries a total purse of 1 billion won ($755,000), with a winner's share of 200 million won. The champion also receives a two-year KPGA Tour card and 1,000 Genesis Points.
yjc@heraldcorp.com
