Na has no regrets becoming a pro at age 17

By Bill Kwon
Special to The Advertiser

Kevin Na, at 20, is the youngest player on the PGA Tour this year. Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser

A young golf phenom of Korean ancestry playing the Sony Open in Hawai'i for the first time.

Dreamed of playing on the pro golf tour as a small youngster.

Told by most everyone to forget school and turn pro.

Devoted, encouraging parents.

The father used to be the caddy.

Michelle Wie, right?

Wrong.

The golfer's name is Kevin Na, the youngest player on the PGA Tour this year at the age of 20 after successfully making it out of the 2003 Qualifying School.

Their budding careers are strikingly similar, although unlike Na, Wie plans to graduate from high school before considering a career in professional golf.

There's no question, though, as Wie continues her amazing success, the pressure to turn pro and get all those endorsements instead of attending college will become greater.

Na didn't even finish high school. He left before his senior year to turn pro at the age of 17.

"No regrets," said the Seoul-born Na, who moved with his family to California when he was 8. A year later, he took up golf and became the No. 1-ranked junior player. He couldn't wait to move to the next level, turning pro a year later.

"No regrets, I guess, because it's what I wanted to do. But, I'm not saying I could have had a different (life) the other way. So who knows? I think about it sometimes, but not much," said Na, now a naturalized American citizen.

Should Wie follow a similar path and turn pro as young as he did?

"Follow whatever you think is right for you," Na advises. "That's it. It's your life."

Although the Sony Open is Na's first tournament as a card-carrying PGA member, he has already played in the limited-field World Golf Championship-NEC Invitational last year, finishing in a tie for 71st place.

He had qualified for the event by winning the 2002 Volvo Masters of Asia at the age of 19 years and three months to become the youngest winner in the history of the Asian PGA Tour.

He spent two years honing his game on the Asian Tour with five top-10 finishes besides the Volvo victory. Last year he also played 11 tournaments on the European Tour, with a tie for sixth in the Dubai Desert Classic being his best finish.

Now, he's ready to take on the PGA Tour after his apprenticeship in international golf

At 20, he's young, brash and confident about his rookie season.

"I'll play as much as I can and enjoy it. Every week except Phoenix (on the West Coast Swing). I don't think I'll have any pressure at all. I've got nothing to lose," Na said.

He's off to a good start this week with rounds of 68, 67, and 70 yesterday at the Waialae Country Club for a 54-hole total of 5-under 205 to be in a 16-way tie for 27th place.

"I played well today but the putts didn't fall," said Na, who has never been to Hawai'i before. "It was kind of frustrating.

"I like the course. Lot of dog-legs. It's more of a shaper's course than a long-ball hitter's course. It's great for me, I like it."

He'll make headlines this year, according to Dave Eichelberger, who played with Na in the first two rounds.

"Keep your eye on Kevin Na. He will win money, lots of it," said the Champions Tour veteran.

And headline writers should love him, too.

Reach Bill Kwon at bkwon@aloha.net.