S. Korean golfer gives himself ’80 points’ after solid showing

RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug. 14 (Yonhap) — South Korean golfer An Byeong-hun gave himself “80 points” out of 100 after a solid showing at the Rio de Janeiro Olympic men’s golf on Sunday.

An finished his tournament at six-under 278 at par-71, 7,128-yard Olympic Golf Course. He shot a three-under 68 in the final round, which included two eagles.

An finished tied for 11th with three other players, 10 behind the gold medalist, Justin Rose of Britain.

“Even though I didn’t win a medal, I had a good experience here and I should be around the top 10,” An said after his round, with the leading groups still on the course. “In the first round, I was hitting the ball well, and my putter was working. I just couldn’t go low enough.”

An said his first taste of the Olympics was “fun,” though he admitted to feeling some pressure to do well.

“A three-under today isn’t a bad score,” he added. “I missed some short putts that I shouldn’t have.”

South Korean golfer An Byeong-hun salutes the crowd after completing the final round at the Rio de Janeiro Olympic men’s golf tournament on Aug. 14, 2016.

An, the 2015 European Tour Rookie of the Year, comes from a family of 1988 Olympic table tennis medalists. His father, An Jae-hyung, won the bronze medal in the men’s doubles in Seoul, and at the same event, his mother, Jiao Zhimin from China, won the silver in the women’s doubles and the bronze in the women’s singles. The two were married after the Olympics.

The senior An is coaching the South Korean men’s team in Rio, and his players reached the semifinals by beating Sweden earlier on Sunday.

“I’ll go to the athletes’ village to see my dad,” the son said after hearing the news. “I hope the table tennis team wins a medal.”

Byeong-hun is scheduled to leave Rio later Sunday. He will take three weeks off before returning to the European Tour.

“I don’t know if I’ll have the opportunity to compete at the Olympics four years from now,” An said. “But I’d love to come back.”