Maekyung round-up

An eye opening week in a number of respects. First, we knew that there was some talent to be unearthed in Korea but frankly not the extent and depth of it.

And having gone there thinking that I had a handle of who the main protagonists in the new generation of Korean tyro's were, I came away with a new ordered hierarchy.

Somewhere in the top three I now have to find a place for Kim Dae Hyun, who was absolutely brilliant this week. He averages 304 yds off the tee but has more up his sleeve, hits it incredibly straight for a bomber, putts beautifully and hardly put a foot wrong all week. He has potential dripping out of him and has just turned 22.

Noh Seung Yul, Bae Sang Moon and Kim Kyung Tae all deserve their reputation as stars of the future but the winner this week may well turn out to be better than them all.

There were many other points of note in a busy week, but if anyone happens to be watching the broadcast tomorrow morning I'll just say to keep your eye open for a couple of rulings that take place on the 16th and 18th holes in the final round ( with the final group). Eye opening may well be the right word.

Sonic Youth

No, not the band, but the other 'band' of fresh faced troubadors currently redefining the modern era of professional golf.

What a day this has been. Rory McIlroy, 20, wins on the US PGA Tour shooting 62 around Quail Hollow, a very tough, major championship style golf course. This of course followed on from Ryo Ishikawa, 18, winning the Crowns event in Japan after shooting, wait for it, 58 in the final round ( Good thing those v grooves came in and conquered the low scoring binge, isn't it!).

Add to this Noh Seung Yul, 18, winning the Malaysian Open earlier this year and a bunch of his compatriots stepping up to the plate in recent weeks (Kim Bio, Bae Sang Moon et al) and it looks like 2010 is going to be one thing- The Year of the Kid.

I'm off to Korea this week to commentate on the Maekyung tournament in Seoul, where all the young studs will be putting their games on show. No social media blackout in Korea (at least the South, anyway) so I'll be able to blog from time to time. Till then...