Wherever he goes, Park's inhaler follows

TUCKED among the clubs and balls in South Korean golfer Park Jun Won's bag is something that could prove to be a potential life-saver.

No, it is not a gap, lob or sand wedge.

Rather, the 20-year-old Seoul native carries around an inhaler - a palm-size device for administering asthma medication.

'From birth until I was about 13, I was constantly admitted to hospital after suffering asthma attacks,' said Park, who was born with the chronic respiratory ailment.

Ironically, though, the potentially life-threatening condition turned out to be a life-changing one for him.

He explained: 'I played football in elementary school and I really liked the sport. But, because of asthma, I had to stop.'

So, at 13, influenced by his golf-playing friends, he hung up his soccer boots and picked up a club instead.

The asthma attacks have since stopped, but he carries his inhaler as a precaution.

Now, the feelings of breathlessness are experienced only by the rivals he meets on the golf course.

As an amateur, the slight-built, 1.7-metre-tall golfer had two victories - the 2004 Tasmanian Open in Australia and the 2005 SBS Invitational in South Korea.

Last year, he turned professional and recorded three top-10s on the Asian Tour.

He was runner-up in the Philippine Open, sixth in the Pulai Springs Malaysian Masters and fourth at the Mecuries Taiwan Masters.

In 17 events, he chalked up US$100,091 (S$152,805) in earnings to finish 41st on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.

'My first year went better than I thought it would,' admitted Park, the younger of two children of a restaurant-owner and housewife.

'I was very pleased and surprised to be able to do well.'

Yesterday at the Laguna National Golf and Country Club, he was dressed smartly in an orange polo tee and white pants and was a picture of quiet confidence.

He will be teeing off with 203 others at this week's US$1.1 million Clariden Leu Singapore Masters 2007, starting on Thursday.

At last year's Singapore Masters, his second professional start, Park missed the cut and was tied 121st in the 155-strong field.

But he is optimistic of a better finish this year.

'My game is good at the moment, but I'll be playing with caution,' he said, after a practice round at the Masters course, known for its rolling fairways, prominent water hazards and thick rough.

'Once you're too aggressive on this course, it might cost you dearly.'

He also plans to stay calm, taking a leaf from his idol, South Africa's two-time Major winner Retief Goosen.

Added the third-year sports science student at Seoul's Sung Kyun Kwan University: 'When I hit a bad shot, I try to think about something that makes me happy.

'I imagine I'm driving a nice car, like a Lamborghini.'

For Park, who drives a Hyundai, owning the Italian high-performance sports car could well become a reality in the near future.

The youngster, a 270-yard straight-hitter, has been tipped by observers as one of Asia's rising stars.

As US-based South Korean golfer Anthony Kang, 34, said: 'It's great to see Park playing the way he is right now.

'He's definitely a good prospect for the future.'

jwang@sph.com.sg