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Nov 3rd, 2016
Australian's gate crash North Korean golf tournament
And promptly butcher the place...
Words: Tim Southwell
Rather them than us! Two cheeky.., no downright crazy Australian golfers managed to bluff their way into an 18-hole international tournament in North Korea by posing as world-class golfers.
Morgan Ruig and Evan Shay, both 28, were on a polo trip in Beijing when they heard about the competition. They successfully applied to play as the Australian team and wore green Masters-style jackets bearing the national logo.
"Aigo!" That's North Korean for OMG if you're interested...
The men, can actually barely hit a barn door from 3 feet with a putter, joined the two-day tournament which saw 85 participants from around the world play North Korea's only golf course in Pyongyang.
The Australian pair were chaperoned throughout their five-day trip which included a tour of the capital, where they placed a bouquet at a monument to the country's leaders.
Ruig & Shay: Golfing pioneers or just total chancers?
"We were very nervous handing our passports over at the border. There are stories of people not coming home," Mr Ruig told the Courier-Mail newspaper.
North Korea's late leader Kim Jong-il opened Pyongyang golf complex in 1987 where he promptly 'recorded' a score of 34 over 18 holes, including 11 hole-in-ones on his first attempt at the sport. After that, he retired unbeaten.
Morgan Ruig hit a slightly more believable 120 for his 18: "I hit 120 and my caddy told me I had bought great shame to my family," he said.
Too right, y'great drongo.
"We played very poorly... but we met some very interesting people."
Ruig also claimed that officials "thought it was quite funny", and that they had no problems leaving the country afterwards.
After a trip that Ruig described as "character building" he added: "I wouldn't recommend it to a light-hearted traveller. It was pretty hardcore but it was an amazing experience."
Next stop: Pitch & Putt at Putin's...
