Who is Byeong Hun An? South Korean golfer on 2024 Masters leaderboard Thursday

Byeong Hun An had a solid showing on the first 18 holes of the 2024 Masters on Thursday, starting his run with three consecutive birdies.

An, who finished 2-under par on Thursday, was a surprise on the early Masters leaderboard, as the South Korean had a solid start at Augusta National.

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While the Masters leaderboard will certainly change between now and Sunday, the final day of the tournament, An is hoping a strong start can provide momentum for the rest of the event.

Here's everything to know about An after his start to the Masters on Thursday:

Who is Byeong Hun An?

Byeong Hun An is a South Korean golfer currently on the PGA Tour, and earned an invitational to the 2024 Masters.

The 32-year-old turned pro in 2011 after a college career at Cal. He was born in Seoul, South Korea, and according to his PGA Tour bio, his English name is Ben.

An moved to the United States in 2005 to attend the David Leadbetter Golf Academy in Bradenton, Florida.

An has never won a PGA Tour event, however, has finished runner-up five times and inside the top five 13 times. He's currently in seventh place in the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup Playoffs and is ranked 44th in the Official World Golf Ranking.

The 2024 Masters marks An's fifth appearance at Augusta National, however, it's his first since 2020. This year's event is all special for An, as it's his first time at the tournament with his wife and children in attendance, he told the PGA Tour.

An became the youngest winner of the U.S. Amateur in 2009, which is an annual tournament consisting of the best amateur golfers in the United States.

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Byeong Hun An tournament history

Byeong Hun An has never won a PGA Tour tournament, however, has been a runner-up five times and top-five finisher 13 times.

Byeong Hun An career earnings

Byeong Hun An's official career earnings are $15,846,169, according to his PGA Tour bio.

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Who is Byeong Hun An? South Korean golfer on Masters leaderboard