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 comes not only from his talent and efforts, but also from the constant support and guidance of his father - Mr. Nguyen Dang Son.

From the first days holding a golf club on a small practice field in Hanoi, few people expected that the young Nguyen Anh Minh would step by step go to the most prestigious golf courses on the planet - where the world's top young talents converge. The steadfast spirit, discipline and passion for golf have taken Anh Minh further than expected. That journey is not only a story of precise shots, but also a journey of faith, will and desire to conquer.

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

Not in a hurry, not chasing after short-term titles, Anh Minh chose for himself a more sustainable path: accumulating experience, training physically and learning in a university environment in the US before entering the professional path.

“I haven’t thought much about turning professional, but it’s definitely something I want to do in the future. Right now, I just want to develop myself better. Coming to the US to study at university has helped me better understand 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.”

The 2025 US Junior Amateur runner-up title helps Nguyen Anh Minh become a name admired by international friends.

Honored and proud to represent Vietnamese golf in international competitions

For many years, Anh Minh has been holding high the flag of Vietnamese golf in the international arena. For the 18-year-old golfer, this is an honor and pride beyond compare.

“I am very proud of what I have done for my country, and wearing the national flag always gives me a great feeling. It is a special honor to take to the field with the national flag on my chest. I have had some proud achievements, and hope to continue to bring better results for Vietnam in the future,” Anh Minh said.

Not only is he a source of pride, Anh Minh has also become a role model for young Vietnamese people who are entering the professional golf career. The 18-year-old golfer is optimistic about the development of youth 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, sharing their passion with friends. It’s great to see them really love this sport . I’m very excited about the future of Vietnamese golf. Having 60-70 new golf courses will give them more opportunities to practice and compete,” said Anh Minh.

Nguyen Anh Minh and his team compete with Charlie Woods - son of legendary Tiger Woods - at the Junior Invitational 2025

On the golf course, Anh Minh is a confident and courageous golfer. In real life, he is a simple guy who lives slowly and appreciates the little things in life. The 18-year-old golfer shared: “I am quite simple. Usually, I just want to meet friends, drink coffee, go for a walk - enjoy the little things like that. I am not the type of person who likes to party or go out a lot, I just want to have a relaxing and comfortable day."

Memorable milestones in Nguyen Anh Minh's career

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

- Team silver medal and individual bronze medal at SEA Games 2023.

- US Junior Amateur 2025 runner-up.

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

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

- Member of the Asia-Pacific team that beat the European team in the Bonallack Trophy 2023 and 2025.

- Three times participating in the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC) from 2022–2024, with the best result being a tie for 7th place at Royal Melbourne Golf Club (Australia).

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