Standing on the range at the US Open Championship, practising next to World Number One Rory McIlroy. Just another day in the life of Byeong-Hun An.
‘Ben’, as he is affectionately known, could be forgiven for pinching himself, but the unassuming Korean has earned the right to be rubbing shoulders with the golfing elite thanks chiefly to his stunning success in the BMW PGA Championship.
After that astonishingly mature display at The European Tour’s flagship event, where he blew away a world-class field, An spoke of his excitement that the victory would “open a lot of doors”.
Fast forward four weeks, and An is one of a 48-strong European Tour contingent in attendance at Chambers Bay Golf Club, on the outskirts of Seattle.
Unlike the vast majority of his peers, An can call on previous experience of Robert Trent Jones Jnr’s creation, having reached the semi-finals of the US Amateur Championship – a tournament he won in 2009 – when it was held in Chambers Bay five years ago.
He said: “I played a practice round here on Monday, and not much has changed since 2010. There are a few new tee boxes which will make the course play longer, but other than that it’s pretty much how I remembered it.
“If you just the miss the green, you can end up 50 yards away. That’s how tough this course can be. There are so many undulations, so placement is key. There could be some really high numbers, and it will be a real test of patience.
“Maybe it gives me an advantage that I’ve been here before, because I feel quite comfortable and I know the lines to take and which spots to avoid. It’s definitely the sort of course where the more you play it, the more comfortable you feel.”
An is certainly growing increasingly comfortable in the company of the McIlroys of this world, with the Shenzhen International – where he retired in the second round with a back injury – the only time he has failed to make the weekend in 13 European Tour starts this season.
In addition to his win in the BMW PGA Championship, An can point to a trio of top ten finishes as further proof of his growing assurance on the world stage; and whilst he is yet to enjoy any success in the Major arena, the calm demeanour and fearless approach he displayed under intense pressure on the final day at Wentworth would indicate an unlimited potential.
“I can’t wait to get started,” he said. “Obviously the first target is to make the cut this week, and if I can do that then hopefully I can push on over the weekend.
“The BMW PGA is a big tournament with a world-class field, so I feel like if I can win that, I can win anywhere. This is obviously a huge week, but I don’t feel out of place. I love playing in front of big crowds, it seems to motivate me and bring the best out of me, so I’m looking forward to it.”
