Byeong Hun An’s tribute to Jason Day is not only a recognition of Day’s incredible skill but also a reflection of the deep respect that professional golfers have for one another
Their close match at the Presidents Cup, despite the loss, allowed An to witness firsthand just how sharp Day’s putting game is, prompting the South Korean to make such an appreciative post.
With Jason Day continuing to prove himself as one of the best putters on the PGA Tour, and Byeong Hun An steadily improving his own game, both players are poised to remain competitive in the coming seasons.
Their friendship and mutual admiration further add to the sportsmanship that makes professional golf such a compelling and respectful sport.
Byeong Hun An and Jason Day both played pivotal roles for the International team at the 2024 Presidents Cup.
An’s steady performance, highlighted by his victory in the foursomes and his tied singles match, made him a valuable contributor to his team. Day, despite a difficult start and a tough singles defeat, showcased his resilience by winning a key point in the Saturday four-ball.
Both players’ performances reflected the unpredictable nature of match play, where a single moment can swing the outcome of a match. While neither player emerged undefeated, their efforts contributed to a closely contested Presidents Cup, and their experience will be invaluable for future international competitions.
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Byeong Hun An’s Praise for Jason Day’s Putting Prowess
In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), South Korean golfer Byeong Hun An commended his fellow professional, Jason Day, for his remarkable putting skills, even calling him the “best putter” he’s ever played with.1
The two golfers had recently been teammates representing the International Team at the 2024 Presidents Cup, a prestigious event held from September 26 to 29 at the Royal Montreal Golf Club in Montreal, Quebec.
An’s post came after their competitive outing in the tournament and served as a strong testament to Day’s abilities on the greens.
Partnership at the Presidents Cup: An and Day vs. Finau and Schauffele
During the Presidents Cup, Byeong Hun An and Jason Day were paired together for a highly anticipated four-ball match on Thursday.
Their opponents, representing the US Team, were the formidable duo of Tony Finau and Xander Schauffele. The match was an intense back-and-forth battle, with An and Day initially taking the lead and providing stiff competition for the Americans.
Despite their efforts and teamwork, the pair narrowly lost the match, finishing 1 Up on the final hole.
The competition was a demonstration of skill, resilience, and camaraderie, especially for An and Day, who both fought hard against two of the PGA Tour’s top players.
Although they came up short, it was clear from An’s post on X that he was deeply impressed with Day’s putting, which stood out even in such a tightly contested match.
Byeong Hun An: Tribute to Day’s Putting Skills
Following their performance at the Presidents Cup, Byeong Hun An took to social media to express his admiration for Jason Day’s exceptional putting abilities.2
In his post, An wrote:
“Random tweet of the day. @JDayGolf is the best putter I’ve played with. He putts like he has the puttview in his brain.”
This statement wasn’t just a casual compliment but a powerful endorsement from a fellow pro who has played with numerous top golfers around the world.
An’s reference to “puttview” is particularly interesting, as it highlights Day’s seemingly intuitive understanding of the greens, as if he were using advanced technology like the Puttview system, which projects lines and slopes to help golfers improve their putting accuracy.
What is Puttview? The Technology Behind the Praise
An’s mention of “puttview” in his post points to a popular indoor putting system designed to enhance golfers’ skills by offering a real-time analysis of putting lines, slopes, and angles.
The system projects visual cues onto a green to guide golfers in their practice sessions, helping them improve their ability to read and adjust for breaks on the course.
By likening Day’s putting ability to having a “puttview in his brain,” An was essentially saying that Day has a natural, almost machine-like ability to read greens and judge the best possible line for his putts.
This is a rare and invaluable skill in professional golf, where precision on the greens often makes the difference between winning and losing.
Byeong Hun An: The PGA Tour’s Top-10 Putters of 2024
As of the Presidents Cup, the PGA Tour has published a list of the top 10 putters for the 2024 season.3
These rankings are determined by various metrics, including strokes gained through putting, accuracy, and consistency. Here’s a look at the top 10 putters on the PGA Tour:
- Xander Schauffele – 52.0
- Denny McCarthy – 52.5
- Christiaan Bezuidenhout – 65.8
- Aaron Baddeley – 67.4
- Ben Silverman – 75.1
- Sam Burns – 76.4
- Maverick McNealy – 76.8
- Mackenzie Hughes – 78.8
- Thomas Detry – 80.6
- Jason Day – 82.6
Jason Day’s inclusion in this elite group is a testament to his precision and control on the greens.
Interestingly, his opponent from the Presidents Cup, Xander Schauffele, tops the list, which further emphasizes the high level of competition between Day and the top US players.
Improvement from 2023 to 2024
Jason Day’s resurgence as a top putter is particularly notable when compared to his 2023 performance. In the previous season, Day ranked 19th on the PGA Tour’s list of best putters.
While this is still an impressive standing, his rise to the top 10 in 2024 shows a marked improvement in his short game.
Day’s ability to rebound and improve his putting stroke is a key reason why he continues to be a contender in major tournaments and high-stakes events like the Presidents Cup. It also underscores why fellow professionals like Byeong Hun An are so eager to sing his praises.
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Byeong Hun An’s Own Putting Journey
While An may have complimented Jason Day’s putting, it’s worth noting that An himself has had a mixed record when it comes to his own performance on the greens.
According to the PGA Tour’s statistics, Byeong Hun An is ranked 80th in putting for the 2024 season. In contrast, he was ranked 155th in the 2023 season.
An’s improvement from last season to this one indicates that he, too, has been working hard on his short game.
While he may not be on the same level as Day or Schauffele just yet, An’s steady rise in the rankings suggests that he’s on the right path. His admiration for Day may also reflect his aspiration to reach the same heights in terms of putting skill.
The Significance of Putting in Professional Golf
Putting is one of the most critical aspects of the game of golf. While driving distance and iron play are often given attention, it’s the performance on the greens that frequently determines the outcome of a tournament.
As Byeong Hun An’s comments about Jason Day illustrate, putting is a skill that requires both technical expertise and a natural feel for the greens.
In modern golf, tools like Puttview help players enhance their putting abilities by offering precise visual feedback during practice.
However, for players like Day, who seem to have an almost instinctive grasp of how to read greens and control their putting stroke, their natural ability sets them apart.
Byeong Hun An and Jason Day at the 2024 Presidents Cup
The 2024 Presidents Cup, held at the Royal Montreal Golf Club, saw some intense matchups between the U.S. and International teams.
Both Byeong Hun An and Jason Day were key players for the International Team, contributing to the overall competitiveness of the event. This article takes a deep dive into their respective performances across the various matches they played.
Byeong Hun An was a key figure in the International team’s lineup. Known for his consistent ball-striking and calm demeanor under pressure, An had a mixed experience at the 2024 Presidents Cup.
He played in three matches: one four-ball, one foursomes, and one singles match, showcasing his adaptability to different formats of play.
Byeong Hun An: New GT Driver
Byeong Hun An testing the sound of his striping sound of his new GT driver and shared his first experience with GT4.
View this post on Instagram
Thursday Four-ball: Teaming Up with Jason Day
In the opening match on Thursday, Byeong Hun An was paired with fellow veteran Jason Day to face the formidable U.S. pairing of Tony Finau and Xander Schauffele.
Despite their best efforts, An and Day were narrowly defeated, losing the match 1 UP. This was a tightly contested encounter, but the American duo managed to edge out a victory on the final hole.
While the match was competitive throughout, it highlighted the challenges An faced in syncing his game with Day’s style of play. Nonetheless, An’s precision and calm demeanor helped keep the match close, even though the result didn’t fall in their favor.
Friday Foursomes: Victory with Si Woo Kim
An’s best performance came in the Friday foursomes, where he partnered with Si Woo Kim. This time, they faced the U.S. pair of Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley. The An-Kim pairing proved to be a successful one, as they secured a 1 UP victory for the International team.
Foursomes (alternate shot format) is often regarded as the most challenging of the match-play formats, as it requires seamless coordination between partners. An’s solid iron play and Kim’s short game were a perfect complement to each other, allowing the International duo to grind out a hard-fought victory.
Their chemistry and strategic approach were key to their success, helping them withstand the pressure from their American counterparts.
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