Seung-yul Noh Set to Begin Military Service in South Korea

There have been many athletes who have taken a break from their sports in order to serve their country. Golf has not been an exception this rule, and the PGA TOUR is ready to see another player take a hiatus.

Seung-yul Noh has decided to leave the PGA TOUR in November in order to begin military service in his home country of South Korea. In South Korea, it is mandatory that men between the ages of 18-35 do at least two full years of service in the country’s military. Noh, being 26 now, has decided to take his two years of service starting in November.

For Noh, this had to be a tough decision. He is a winner on the PGA TOUR, taking home the Zurich Classic of New Orleans title back 2014, and also has three other professional victories. Noh also earned a PGA TOUR card for the 2017-2018 season, making his decision to leave even more difficult. Noh’s latest contest just wrapped up in his home of South Korea, where he finished T-36 at the CJ Cup.

Seung-Yul Noh of South Korea plays his second shot on the 3rd hole…

Seung-Yul Noh of South Korea plays his second shot on the 3rd hole during the third round of the CJ Cup at Nine Bridges on October 21, 2017 in Jeju, South Korea. Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images

Even though the CJ Cup was his last start for several years, it was extra special for Noh, as his dad was his caddie.  “When I first became a pro, my dad used to caddie for me for a couple of years and we traveled a lot together,” he said. “As you know, since I will be joining the army, I currently do not have a caddie. My dad caddied for me in the last tournament and thought he was still good enough, and that’s why he joined me for the CJ Cup.”

Noh is far from the first South Korean pro to have to leave in the middle of his prime in order to serve his country. Fan favorite, KJ Choi, took his two-year hiatus from the PGA TOUR in the mid-90s in order to do his required service. And just weeks ago, another former PGA TOUR winner, Sangmoon Bae, returned to the PGA TOUR after serving his two years.

Luckily for Noh, since he earned his PGA TOUR card for this season, there is a clause in the rules that will allow him to return with his card once his service is concluded. We can only hope that Noh stays safe so he can get back to playing golf in 2019.

Cover Image via Flickr