KOLON KOREA OPEN
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Tournament Info

KOLON KOREA OPEN. The Kolon Korea-open golf championship

Foundation & developement content

  • people photo besides Duk Chun Yeon

    Duk-Chun Yeon (1916~2004), a Korean golf legend, was the only Korean professional golfer until 1956.

    Hence, promoting to nurture professional golfers was indispensable
    at that time. Lee soon young, director of Seoul Country Club at the time put heavy consideration trying to make resolutions for professional golfer gap. He came out with the conclusion that exchanging international golf tournaments was the concrete breakthrough to elevate Korean golfer's capabilities. And the basis toward achieving this goal would come from having players with whom he precipitated the nurturing of professional golfers.

  • golfers photo when in bounded in seoul

    Coordination between director Lee and professional golfer Yeon brought about the world of professional golf in Korea incrementally and the news started to spread out. In spite of difficult financial status, Seoul Country Club decided not to lose this opportunity for rehabilitation and starts to design tournaments for open golfers.

    The first Korea Open Championship was held at Seoul Country Club.

    Gurakbu Course from 11 September 1958 to the 14th for 4 consecutive days to all domestic and international golf associations.

  • photo

    The first tournament held after some confrontment of struggles started off small with domestic professional/amateur players including a few participants from The United States and China.

    From humble beginnings, Korea Open Championship soon became the most well-known tournament in Korea.

    After the foundation of golf association and with the help of press to advertise internationally, top class players from Japan, China began participating in the Korea Open, as if it had really become a major international tournament. Later, additional players from New Zealand, Australia, and Philippines joined for competition, prospering the tournament.

    On the other side, the initiatives for Korea Open were transferred from Seoul Country Gurakbu to Korea Golf Association in 1966(current Korea Golf Association), and then were renamed into Korea Open golf championship & Asia Golf Circuit tournament after conducting a parallel game employment together with the Asia Golf tournaments from 1970.

    In 1982, Korea Open Championship was separated from Asia Golf Circuit and the Maekyung Open was founded to replace it.

    Thus it allowed the change of the tournament schedule to be played in September and October which are ideal seasons to host a golf tournament.

The Korea Open with KOLON content area

Supporting pride and tradition

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With KOLON’s support, Korea Open became the part of the Open Qualifying Series with two places to The Open Championship.

KOLON Trading Company stood proud as the co-host of the Korean Open in the 1990s, dedicating immense efforts to develop the tournament and establish a reputation befitting its national title. The company implemented a strategic approach by inviting exceptional players who would enhance the overall quality of the tournament. This strategy aimed to elevate the stature of the event and foster a competitive environment.

golfer photo

KOLON made significant strides in the Korea Open by inviting emerging star player Scott Hoch, a four-time champion in the PGA Tour. Scott's consecutive victories in the 1990 and 1991 tournaments not only showcased his talent but also motivated Korean players to improve their international competitiveness. Despite continuously relinquishing the national titles to foreign players, KOLON's strategic decision proved worthwhile in the long run, as it contributed to the elevation of Korean golf and its long-term prospects.

The Korea Open sets a new objective as it faces the new millennium: to strive towards becoming a global tournament, extending its reach beyond just the Asian region.

In the 2000s, the Korea Open made significant strides in attracting world-class players. KOLON extended invitations to renowned golfers such as Nick Faldo, a seven-time winner of major tournaments in 2001, and Paul Lawrie, the champion of the 1999 British Open, along with other notable players at the major level. In 2002, KOLON had the privilege of hosting Sergio Garcia, often hailed as 'the European golf's divinity' and on par with Tiger Woods. During this competition, Garcia showcased his exceptional skills by recording the lowest score of 265 (23-under-par), leaving the audience in awe of his luminous and stylish golf performance.

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In 2003, the 46th KOLON Korea Open Championship shifted its venue to The Woo Jeong Hills Country Club, introducing a new strategy of a "gender competition." This meant inviting John Daly, known for his monstrous long drives, and Laura Davies, representing the female competition. After winning the 2003 Korea Open, John Daly found another opportunity to rise back and eventually became the champion at the PGA.

In 2007, the world's number one ranked player, Vijay Singh, claimed victory in the 50th anniversary tournament. Rickie Fowler also secured his first championship in this competition, which boosted his confidence and led to subsequent success on the PGA Tour.

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy participated in the Korea Open three times in 2009, 2011, and 2013, consistently delivering exceptional performances. Yang Yong-eun, who won the Korean Open for the first time in 2006, received an invitation to the HSBC Champions in Shanghai, China. In that tournament, Yang seized the opportunity to compete on the world stage, defeating Tiger Woods and emerging as the winner.

Since its humble beginnings in 1958, the Korea Open has generated numerous topics and records over its 65-year history. These achievements were not only influenced by tradition and history but also by the invitation of top-class foreign players. This approach has significantly elevated the level of Korean golf, illustrating its remarkable growth.