Nguyen Anh Minh wants to 'develop himself' before becoming a professional golfer

TPO - At the age of 18, Nguyen Anh Minh, Vietnam's number 1 golfer, is in an important transitional phase of his career. After making outstanding marks in the international arena, Anh Minh has gradually improved himself in a university environment in the US, with the goal of pursuing a professional career in the future.

Nguyen Anh Minh's success stems not only from his talent and hard work, but also from the unwavering support and guidance of his father, Mr. Nguyen Dang Son.

From his early days wielding a golf club on a small practice range in Hanoi, few could have imagined that young Nguyen Anh Minh would one day make his way to the most prestigious golf courses on the planet – the gathering place of the world's top young talents. His unwavering spirit, discipline, and passion for golf have taken Anh Minh far beyond expectations. This journey is not just a story of precise shots, but also a journey of belief, willpower, and a burning desire to conquer.

“What I’m focusing on improving is my driving distance,” Anh Minh shared after joining Oregon State University (USA) in September 2025. “When competing in US Junior, US Amateur, or Western Amateur, I realized that distance is extremely important in the US, where most golfers have very long drives. If you don’t hit enough distance, playing on courses with long roughs, deep bunkers, and strong winds becomes much more difficult. So, right now, I’m focusing all my efforts on improving this.”

Without rushing or chasing short-term titles, Anh Minh chose a more sustainable path: accumulating experience, improving his physical fitness, and learning in a university environment in the US before embarking on a professional career.

“I haven’t thought much about turning professional yet, but it’s definitely something I want to do in the future. Right now, I just want to improve myself. Going to university in the US has helped me understand more about how to compete at the highest level of amateur golf. For me, learning and improving myself is more important than rushing to become a professional golfer.”

Winning the runner-up title in the US Junior Amateur 2025 competition helped Nguyen Anh Minh become a name admired by international peers.

It is an honor and a source of pride to represent Vietnamese golf in international competitions.

For many years, Anh Minh has proudly led Vietnamese golf on the international stage. For the 18-year-old golfer, this is an unparalleled honor and source of pride.

"I am very proud of what I have done for my country, and wearing the national flag always brings a great feeling. Taking to the field with the national flag on my chest is a special honor. I have achieved proud accomplishments, and I hope to continue bringing even better results for Vietnam in the future," Anh Minh expressed.

More than just a source of pride, Anh Minh has become a role model for young Vietnamese people embarking on a professional golf career. The 18-year-old golfer expresses optimism about the development of junior golf in the country.

“Vietnam’s youth golf training program is progressing very well. More and more young people are participating in golf, and they are learning every day, practicing together, and sharing their passion with friends. It’s wonderful to see them truly love this sport . I am very excited about the future of golf in Vietnam. The addition of 60-70 new golf courses will give them more opportunities to practice and compete,” said Anh Minh.

Nguyen Anh Minh will be competing against Charlie Woods - the son of legendary Tiger Woods - at the 2025 Junior Invitational.

On the golf course, Anh Minh is a confident and skilled player, but off the course, he's a simple young man who lives life at a slow pace and appreciates the little things. The 18-year-old golfer shared: "I'm quite simple. Usually, I just want to meet up with friends, have coffee, go for a walk – enjoying the little things like that. I'm not the type who likes to party or go out a lot; I just want a relaxing, comfortable day, and that's enough."

Memorable milestones in Nguyen Anh Minh's career.

- Individual and team champion of the 2024 Asia- Pacific Amateur Men's Team Championship (Nomura Cup).

- Silver medal in the team event and bronze medal in the individual event at the 2023 SEA Games.

- Runner-up in US Junior Amateur 2025.

- Participate in two prestigious tournaments, the US Amateur and The Amateur Championship, in the same year, 2025.

- Member of the International team for the Junior Presidents Cup 2024.

- Members of the Asia-Pacific team defeated the European team in the Bonallack Trophy in 2023 and 2025.

- Participated three times in the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC) from 2022–2024, with the best result being a joint 7th place finish at Royal Melbourne Golf Club (Australia).

Source: https://tienphong.vn/nguyen-anh-minh-muan-phat-trien-ban-than-truoc-khi-tro-thanh-golfer-chuyen-nghiep-post1791074.tpo