From left, Korean Golf Club members Kim Min-kyu, Song Young-han, An Byeong-hun and Danny Lee walk on a fairway at Dutchman's Pipe Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, Tuesday. Courtesy of LIV Golf

A quartet of Korean-born players in LIV Golf said Tuesday they are fired up for a homecoming in May, determined to give home fans a memorable showing as the tour makes its second appearance here.

Former PGA Tour veteran An Byeong-hun captains the newly branded Korean Golf Club, which also features Korean-born Kiwi Danny Lee and homegrown players Kim Min-kyu and Song Young-han.

Lee is the only carryover from the team formerly called Iron Heads Golf Club. In concerted efforts to better appeal to the Korean market, LIV Golf poached An from the PGA Tour and signed Kim and Song, veterans of the Korean and Japanese tours, respectively. Korean Golf Club also adopted a new logo and roundel that leans into Korean culture.

Backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), LIV Golf will return to Korea for the second consecutive year with May 28-31 LIV Golf Korea at Asiad Country Club in the southeastern city of Busan.

"Obviously, our priority is a great golf. We would like to show fans what we're capable of with some exciting and interesting golf. That's what we're here for," An said. "We want to grow. We want to grow the Korean Golf Club in Korea. We have a lot of fans out there supporting us, and hopefully, we can make this tournament as big as we can."

Song and Kim echoed An's sentiment, saying nothing will serve home fans better than a strong tournament.

Lee, who played at the LIV Golf Korea tournament in the western city of Incheon last May, said he expects an increased interest in LIV Golf this time around.

"We have a new Korean captain, which will bring a lot of passion to all of the Korean golf fans," Lee said. "I heard that golf course is going to be very different than last year's LIV Golf Korea event in Jack Nicklaus Golf Club (in Incheon). I think it's going to be a different style of golf that (people) will watch, and hopefully, our team can follow through and make something special out of it."

All four players can certainly use a jolt to their season.

Source: Korea Times News