Jin

Jeong

Carding a 9-under 63 on Monday at Boulder Creek Golf Club, Jin Jeong played his way into this week’s Shriners Children’s Open. Possessing a decorated amateur career and a victory on the European Tour, Jeong has not fared well on the PGA Tour when he has made appearances. Making the 10th start of his career this week at TPC Summerlin, the 31-year-old will hope the good vibes from Boulder City carry over to Las Vegas.

The qualifier within the tournament at Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club granted exemptions into the season’s third major to the top three not already exempt. Champion George Coetzee earned the first berth, but a tiebreaker was required to determine the next two. England’s Tyrrell Hatton also posted a T2, but was eliminated from consideration for having the worst Official World Golf Ranking at 276th. Walters entered the week slotted 207th; Jeong was 235th. Walters of South Africa will be making his debut in The Open while Jeong of South Korea returns after at T14 as an amateur at St. Andrews in 2010.

The top two in earnings at the conclusion of the Emirates Australian Open are exempt into the no-cut tournament in March. The already-eligible Adam Scott ran away with the money title. Jeong made nine starts on the circuit. While he missed the cut in the season finale at Royal Sydney Golf Club to total four MCs on the docket, his win at the Perth Invitational provided the financial boost necessary to rise to No. 2 overall. He’s made only one start in a WGC, finishing T18 at the HSBC Champions a month ago.

Jeong earned the low-amateur tag in his Open debut, and this will be his first time returning to the event, this time as a professional. His recent form leaves a lot to be desired, missing the cut in his last six worldwide events. The 2010 British Amateur champion has shown flashes of brilliance, winning the Perth International in October of 2013 and finishing runner-up at this year’s Joburg Open. The upside is there, but gamers should temper expectations this week as Jeong makes his second career Open Championship appearance.

Jeong tied for 18th a year ago, but his recent returns have not been good. He’s missed 13 of his last 14 cuts across the globe, with an 82nd in Omega European Masters breaking the monotony. Perhaps nobody will enjoy the perks of a no-cut event more than he.

The 2010 British Amateur champion went fairway-green-two putt on the par-4 18th hole at Lake Karrinyup Country Club to eliminate Ross Fisher, who failed to find the putting surface in regulation and eventually missed an eight-foot par save. The duo completed regulation in 10-under-par 278. Fifty-four-hole leader Brody Ninyette settled for a three-way share of third place two strokes back; the Aussie shot a Sunday 72. “I was nervous, I was shaking but I controlled myself pretty well all day I thought,” said Jeong, who closed with a 69 to Fisher’s 68. “I don’t know what I’ve done to be honest. ... I had played playoffs in mini tour events, but playing with Ross Fisher, he’s one of my heroes. Playing with him in the playoff, it was unbelievable.” Among Jeong’s spoils is an exemption into next week’s WGC-HSBC Champions. The 23-year-old started the week at 1,066th in the Official World Golf Ranking. He’ll now encroach on the top 325 when the next edition is released.

He’s in this field due to his out-of-nowhere victory at the Perth International on Oct. 20. Thanks to that win, he vaulted 730 spots in the Official World Golf Ranking to 336th. He’s since climbed another two notches. So, he’s truly playing on house money this week. While Jeong has swallowed two bogeys in each round, he’s compensated with nine birdies. At the time he signed his card today, he led the field in driving accuracy (20 of 28 fairways hit).