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| Bae Sang-moon |
The golfer returned to Korea after 10 months on the PGA Tour to compete at the 2015 Presidents Cup scheduled from Oct. 8 to 11 at Jack Nicklaus Golf Club in Incheon. As a member of the International Team, Bae, along with 11 other non-European golfers, will play against the top 12 golfers representing the United States.
"I'd like to apologize first for causing a controversy," Bae told reporters at the Incheon International Airport. "I'm happy to be back home, but I'd like to apologize to my fans who have been supporting me."
It will be Bae's last event before the two-time PGA Tour winner joins the military as he failed to extend his overseas travel permit.
Bae's travel permit expired at the end of last year and he was ordered to return home within 30 days. Bae requested an extension, but the Military Manpower Administration (MMA) refused it, suspecting that Bae may have been trying to evade his duty. Bae filed an administrative suit on Jan. 16, saying that he needs to stay overseas for upcoming competitions, but a local court ruled against him in July in favor of the MMA.
After the ruling, Bae said he respected the decision and agreed to put his golfing career on hold. While the legal battle was under way, he was allowed to stay overseas, but as he lost the case, he was charged with violating the Conscription Law.
As Bae expressed his will to comply with the court order, his indictment was suspended and he is required to appear before police within 30 days from his arrival to Korea.
Due to Bae's status, it isn't clear whether he can play in Incheon. However, police will reportedly seek to summon Bae after the Presidents Cup to refer him to the prosecution.
"I don't know my precise schedule before the Presidents Cup, so I cannot say what's going to happen at this point, but what I can say is that I will fully comply with authorities' investigation and take appropriate steps to join the military," Bae said.
Bae joined the International Team as one of two picks by International Team Captain Nick Price. The top 10 golfers, except for those eligible for the European Ryder Cup, on the Official World Golf Rankings at the end of the 2015 Deutsche Bank Championship automatically qualified as the International Team, while the captain is allowed to make two additional picks.
Bae was said to be one of the Korean prospects who can make it onto the International Team, but the controversy over his military duty turned his focus off the field.
After the July ruling, however, he regained his form during the PGA Tour play-offs and finished 19th in the International Team standings. He was able to earn a spot as Price valued the fact that Koreans will cheer for their home grown golfing star, as well as Bae's two wins at the Presidents Cup venue.
"I met Price last week and thanked him for picking me. I said I will not disappoint him and will contribute to the team," Bae said.
At the upcoming event, which will be held in an Asian country for the first time, Bae will make his Presidents Cup debut as the only Korean player. Danny Lee, a Korean-born Kiwi who automatically qualified as a top-10 golfer, will also make his debut.
