The youngest. The youngest. The shortest.
Jaden Soong, a 13-year old from Burbank in California who is 5-foot-2 tall and weighs 115 lbs, will be all the above when he joins over 500 other golfers for final qualifying to the U.S. Open 2023.
He can hit the ball 280 yards away with his driver.
“I expect some people to be shocked and surprised,” Soong said in an interview with USA TODAY Sports.
The kid’s prodigious game of golf is no secret anymore.
Soong celebrated his 12-foot playoff putt on May 15 during the first qualifying stage for the U.S. Open, which will be held in Los Angeles from June 15-18. He did a Tigeresque fist-pump. He was the youngest ever player to qualify for the U.S. Open’s second and final qualifying stage.
Soong, depending on his performance in a 36 hole competition at Hillcrest Country Club, Los Angeles, could become the youngest person to ever qualify for the U.S. Open. Andy Zhang holds the record, having played in 2012’s U.S. Open at 14 years old.
Jaden Soong The U.S. Open for this year will be held at the Los Angeles Country Club. Soong and his parents live less than 30 miles away.
Soong, an eighth grader, said: “That would definitely be cool and exciting.” “I don’t really put too much into it because I want to go there without expectations.”
What is the source of Jaden Soong’s power?
Tiger Woods’ average driving distance was 310 yards during the 2021-22 PGA Season – approximately 30 yards more than Soong’s top drive. Woods is almost one foot taller than Soong, and his driving distance of 185 yards is about 30 yards longer.
Soong: “It is pretty cool, because golf is one sport where size doesn’t really matter.” “It’s true, size does matter but not to the same extent as in baseball or football. It’s really about how strong your mind is.”
How does he manage to generate such a high level of power?
Chris, Soong’s dad, says that a growth spurt which led to muscle spasms was a factor.
According to his father, Soong, on the advice of an orthopedic spinal surgeon, stopped golfing in February 2022 for three months. He worked out his core muscles. He was driving his ball between 210 and 220 yards at the time.
His father stated that when Soong started playing again, the ball was being driven 230-240 yards.
Chris Soong, upon seeing the benefits fitness training can bring to your life, said “I was like wow!”
In December, Soong started working with a personal trainer and his father reported that his driving distance was increasing.
The cost of a new car can add up very quickly
In May 2017, Soong’s father recorded him smashing balls with a driving at Knollwood Country Club, Granada Hills, California.
Chris Soong shared the video to Soong’s Instagram account and stated that the video has now been viewed over a million time – by industry decision makers, including golfers.
According to his father, the video convinced TaylorMade and Nike to give Soong golf equipment. Soong does not receive any funds to travel, or for a swing coach that is also a fitness trainer and a putting instructor.
“It adds-up very quickly,” said Chris Soong. He is a Kellogg Company sales manager, and his wife Sandra works as an operations manager at a commercial real estate service firm.
“You try to dream big,” said he. “But she’s much more of a realist, and keeps things grounded. “I’m more like, hey, you never know. That’s the purpose of dreaming large, right?”
“Patience, humility and patience”
Chris Soong, who is now aged 13, was introduced to the game of golf by his grandparents.
He said that playing with his grandmother, who is 4’10”, taught him patience and humility. “Here, she’s hitting it down the middle of fairway while I’m a young kid who is hitting the ball very far and yet she beats me.”
Chris Soong, who grew up loving the game, said that his skills did not compare to those of his son’s, who began hitting plastic golf clubs with his 2 year old son.
Jaden Soong has dozens of videos posted on his Instagram account. It also contains almost 27,000 pictures. His father has videos of him playing baseball.
Chris Soong sent a text message: “I taught him how to bat lefty from the age of 5 so that he wouldn’t mess up with his golf swing.”
Jaden Soong says he will be playing baseball competitively this summer. He also enjoys videogames and watching Tiger Woods highlights.
“It’s also wonderful to be a kid at the side,” he added.
So will have an excused absence. Jaden Soong is scheduled to play at 11:55 am. He would normally be in P.E. With his classmates from Thomas Starr King, Los Feliz Middle School.
He said, “I suppose I will be doing a lot of work on Monday.”
