Open Championship: 5 international sleepers could steal the Claret Jug

SOUTHPORT, ENGLAND - APRIL 24: The Claret Jug, the Open Championship trophy, in front of the clubhouse at Royal Birkdale Golf Club, the host course for the 2017 Open Championship during a Media day for the 146th Open Championship on April 24, 2017 in Southport, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) /

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SCOTTSDALE, AZ – FEBRUARY 04: Byeong Hun An of Korea plays his tee shot on the fifth hole during the third round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale on February 4, 2017 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /

By the age of 23, Byeong Hun An claimed a pair of wins not many can compare to in stature.

The sweet-swinging South Korean won the 2009 U.S. Amateur and the 2015 BMW PGA Championship, the premier amateur and European Tour events, respectively. The BMW was won at a record-setting 21-under-par after seeing the course for the first time the Monday of tournament week.

It’s somewhat of a surprise An isn’t more of a household name, but a lack of major championship success can cause that. A tie for 23rd at the 2016 U.S. Open was his best effort in four made cuts out of 13.

In his second season on the PGA TOUR this year, An has acclimated well to a new set of courses.

His only missed cut is at the U.S. Open and he was in the mix to win the Waste Management Phoenix Open (6th), Wells Fargo Championship (T8th) and AT&T Byron Nelson (T5th).

He’s shown he can play well anywhere in the world as he’s inside the top 100 in both the FedEx Cup and Race to Dubai points list.

On the links, An is 2-for-4 making the cut at The Open.

Even if the wind flares up, An’s ballstriking should hold up as well as any’s. He’s top 30 in strokes gained off the tee, approaching the tee and tee to green.

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