LONDON (REUTERS) - South Korean An Byeong Hun urged more Asian golfers to try their luck on the European Tour following his outstanding six-shot win in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.
The 23-year-old is in his rookie season on the main circuit after spending three years on the second-tier Challenge Tour and he achieved the biggest victory of his fledgling career by firing a sizzling seven-under closing round of 65 on Sunday.
"I'm always telling my friends in Asia that the European Tour is great," An said after finishing with a 21-under tally of 267, a record for the championship in relation to par. "I keep telling them they should come over. There are a lot of good players and a lot of good events and great courses."
An became only the third rookie to win the championship in the 60-year history of the event, picking up a first prize of €833,330 (S$1.22 million) and climbing from 132nd in the world rankings to 54.
It secured him a place in next month's US Open at Chambers Bay in Washington State, a three-year exemption to the British Open and a European Tour exemption that will last until the end of 2019.