(Olympics) PGA Tour players ready to do S. Korea proud in France

Competing at an Olympic Games means different things to different athletes. For South Korean golfer An Byeong-hun, the son of two Olympic table tennis medalists, representing the country at the quadrennial event takes on extra significance. An's father, Ahn Jae-hyung, won the men's doubles bronze medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. He met his future wife, Jiao Zhimin of China, during that event in Seoul, and Jiao outdid Ahn by winning two medals in the South Korean capital -- silver in the women's doubles and bronze in the women's singles. Byeong-hun grew up to become a professional golfer and he will now play for South Korea for the second time in three Olympics this week in France, having earlier done so in Rio de Janeiro eight years ago. The men's tournament tees off Thursday at Golf National, just outside Paris. "I feel so proud. I think playing at the Olympics means more to me than some other golfers," An said, in an interview script provided by the PGA Tour, on behalf of the International Golf Federa tion, on Monday. "It's long been a dream of mine to win an Olympic medal. I think I grew up watching the Olympics more than other players, and having already played at an Olympics should help me." An said he watched table tennis more than other sports at the Olympic Games growing up. And once golf returned to the Olympic program in 2016, An began dreaming of becoming the third Olympic medalist of his family. An will be joined on the national team by Kim Joo-hyung, a three-time PGA Tour winner who goes by Tom Kim in the United States. It will be Kim's first Olympics. "Even though this is his first Olympics, he has a ton of experience on the tour," An said of the 22-year-old. "He may look like a kid but he really is not. There are a lot of things that I can learn from him on the course. I think he may be feeling some pressure but if he can play his game, he should be able to contend for a medal." Kim said the French course was in great shape and would provide a good test for the Olympians. "No Korean male golfer has won an Olympic medal yet, and it gives me a sense of responsibility," Kim said. "South Korea is good at many different sports. And if we can add a medal from here, it would mean a lot for golf in South Korea and also the rest of Asia." Kim said he was looking forward to playing next to An, calling him one of his close friends on the tour. "I will try not to forget how much it means to represent the country," Kim added. Source: Yonhap News Agency