プレジデンツ杯にアジアから最多５人、成長の「証明」と主将

【シャーロットＡＦＰ＝時事】２２日に開幕する男子ゴルフの対抗戦、第１４回プレジデンツ・カップでは、松山英樹ら史上最多５人のアジア選手が世界選抜のメンバーとして米国選抜に挑む。（写真は男子ゴルフのイム・ソンジェ）
　今大会には、昨年のマスターズ・トーナメント覇者である松山の他に、任成宰（イム・ソンジェ）、キム・ジュヒョン、李京勲（イ・キョンフン）、キム・シウという過去最多４人の韓国勢が参戦する。
　普段よりもアジア勢が多くなったのは、多くの候補がリブゴルフ・インビテーショナルシリーズと契約してこの大会に出場できなくなったという事情もあるが、世界選抜主将のトレバー・イメルマンは、アジアゴルフの成長を示す出来事でもあると考えている。
　イメルマンは「各国が草の根レベルで進めてきた取り組みの成果であり、証明だ」と話し、「そうした急成長を目の当たりにできるのは、私としてもエキサイティングなこと。うまくいっている」と喜んだ。
　今回の米国選抜は、世界ランキング上位１８人中１１人をそろえている。それだけにキム・ジュヒョンは、この相手を倒すことができればアジアゴルフの大きな節目になり得ると考えており、「アジアのゴルフにとって素晴らしいこと。僕らがここへ来られたことは、アジアの多くの人の励みになる」とコメントした。
　米ツアー２勝を挙げている任成宰は、今が韓国ゴルフの最強時代だと話し、その要因として「韓国人選手の多くが、米国でプレーしたいというメンタリティーとハングリー精神を持っている」と語った。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2022/09/22-13:49）

A record five Asian players will be part of the Internationals lineup attempting to pull off an upset over the United States at the Presidents Cup starting on Thursday.
Japan's Hideki Matsuyama, the 2021 Masters champion, is joined by a record four South Koreans -- Im Sung-jae, Kim Joo-hyung, Lee Kyoung-hoon and Kim Si-woo -- in the Internationals team at Quail Hollow.
While the larger than usual Asian contingent owes something to the slew of players who are unavailable due to signing with LIV golf, Internationals captain Trevor Immelman believes it also highlights the rise of Asian golf.
It's a nod and a testament to the work countries have done at the grass-roots level, Immelman said. It's exciting for me to see the explosion. It's working.
Immelman has been able to blend players from vastly different cultures and unite them as a team.
You do it in a very simple way -- spend more time together, Immelman said. They start to learn to love each other and once that happens it's easy.
Kim Joo-Hyung, who won his first PGA title last month at nearby Greensboro, has enjoyed being among eight rookies on this year's squad.
Can't put it into words. Everyone is just fired up, he said.
He sees this week as a potential milestone moment for Asian golf, especially if his squad could pull off a shocking upset of a US team with 11 of the world's 18 top-ranked players.
It's great for Asian golf, he said. It could inspire a lot of people back in Asia for us to be here.
South Korea's Yang Yong-eun was seen as a longshot when he was matched against Tiger Woods in the final round at the 2009 PGA Championship at Hazeltine, but Yang inflicted the first major defeat upon Woods when the superstar led after 54 holes, becoming Asia's first male major winner.
Could South Koreans lead another stunner?
I feel come Sunday we'll have a really good chance, Kim Joo-hyung said.
Im, twice a PGA Tour winner, said this is the strongest time for South Korean golf.
There's four players here. I feel like it's about as strong as it has been, Im said.
A lot of Korean players are hungry to come over to the United States so the mentality and the hunger factor, I think it's strong as ever and that's why the Koreans in general have been stronger than ever.
Both Immelman and Scott have enoyed watching the newcomers, especially 20-year-old Kim Joo-hyung, as they experience wonder and anxiety.
It's fun for me to ride that roller coaster with them, Immelman said.
Scott, a 10th-time Cup starter seeking his first victory, isn't planning any pep talks.
I don't feel like I need to stand there and fire these kids up, he said. You want to run with the excitement while it's naturally there.