French lick: Two South Korean golfers, Kim Seong-hyeon and Lee Seung-taek, have secured their PGA Tour cards for the upcoming season following successful performances on the second-tier Korn Ferry Tour in 2025.
According to Yonhap News Agency, both players finished within the top 20 on the Korn Ferry Tour Points List after the season-ending Korn Ferry Tour Championship in French Lick, Indiana. Kim Seong-hyeon tied for 12th place, while Lee Seung-taek tied for 24th in the tournament.
Kim Seong-hyeon, who first played on the PGA Tour in 2023 but lost his membership last year, made a strong comeback by finishing eighth on the Korn Ferry Tour rankings. His performance was bolstered by a victory at the AdventHealth Championship in May and two runner-up finishes, securing his return to the PGA Tour.
Lee Seung-taek, who finished 13th on the Korn Ferry Tour rankings, was one of six players to finish inside the top 20 without a victory this season. He achieved six top-10 finishes, including a playoff loss to Neal Shipley at the LECOM Suncoast Classic in April. Lee made 21 cuts on the tour, ranking second only to Pontus Nyholm.
Lee's journey to the PGA Tour is notable, having spent eight years on the Korea PGA (KPGA) Tour before earning his Korn Ferry Tour membership at the 2024 PGA Tour Q-School. He gained entry to the qualifying tournament by finishing fifth on the KPGA Tour Player of the Year points list in 2024, marking him as the first South Korean player to reach the PGA Tour via the KPGA route.
Expressing his excitement, Lee stated, "I'm so happy to make it to the PGA Tour. It's been a dream of mine since I was a kid. I can't describe how excited I am. But I will enjoy this only for today and I will start preparing for the new season on the PGA Tour."