Byeong-hun An’s move to LIV Golf isn’t just a career shift; it’s a full leap into the unknown. At 34, after a decade grinding it out on the PGA Tour, An has traded familiarity for something bolder: captaincy of LIV’s newly rebranded Korean Golf Club team. And while other players may have tiptoed into LIV’s world, An is diving in headfirst.
“I’ve never seen it,” he admitted during LIV’s media day in Florida. That line alone says everything. No rehearsed PR gloss. No pretense. Just a player willing to roll the dice because the vision in front of him finally aligned with the one he’s quietly held for years, growing the game back home.
LIV’s Bold Korean Rebrand Begins with a Shakeup
And that’s where this move takes on a deeper weight.
LIV’s off-season has been chaotic, to say the least. Kevin Na, once the steady captain of the now-defunct Iron Heads, is out. An is in. Gone too are players like Japan’s Jinichiro Kozuma, who, by the way, had been their top performer in 2025. LIV didn’t blink. They had a new mission: a clean, Korean-forward identity. Talks with Si Woo Kim fizzled. So, An became the centerpiece. Minkyu Kim, Younghan Song, and Danny Lee round out the new squad, a fresh lineup with a clear cultural direction.
But the story here isn’t just about nationality. It’s about timing and choice.
A Late Offer, a Family Decision, a New Chapter
According to An, the offer came late, and the decision even later. “It wasn’t like an end-of-the-season decision,” he said. “It was literally three, four weeks ago.” A family discussion followed. A crossroads moment. The result? “Excitement” replaced hesitation.
An leaves the PGA Tour with gratitude, but also with a tinge of unfinished business. No wins on the U.S. circuit, despite steady play and moments of brilliance. His sole triumph during that stretch? A home-soil victory at the 2024 Genesis Championship on the DP World Tour. Still, as the PGA Tour’s highest career earner without a win, his decade there was hardly wasted.
“I didn’t achieve as much as some of the other players,” he reflected. That humility, not regret, seems to underscore his mindset. He’s proud of his Presidents Cup and Olympic appearances. But at 35, he knows there’s more to be written.
Legacy Over PGA Tour Comfort: Why LIV Made Sense
Now, he’s chasing something different: impact.
LIV Golf offered him a captaincy. A team. A platform. For An, it’s more than a payday; it’s a legacy play. A chance to lead, to grow Korean golf globally, and maybe, finally, to feel like he’s exactly where he’s meant to be.
Time will tell what this new chapter brings. But one thing’s certain: Byeong-hun An didn’t just sign a contract; he started a transformation.
