Dudes posing as pros in North Korean golf match could've played anyway
North Korea might not be the best place for an elaborate joke, but these two Australian guys decided to try their luck anyhoo.
Morgan Ruig and Evan Shay, both 28, have recently returned from competing at the North Korean Open (a championship open to all amateurs) where they masqueraded as professionals, for some reason.
"We were actually in Beijing at a polo tournament, we thought why be an internationalist when you can be a dual internationalist," Ruig told Nine News.
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The pair applied for the tournament via email, which took place on Oct. 8-9 in Pyongyang, on the country's only golf course.
They told officials they were a "couple of Australian golfers," but that ended up being misconstrued and organisers believed they were from the Australian golf team.
So they went along with it. "We didn't say no," Ruig said.
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The duo were toted to "official duties," pictured visiting the statues of the state's revered leaders Kim-Jong Il and Kim-Jong Un, while also getting green jackets made up to commemorate their international tour.
Officials quickly caught wind of the fact that the Australians were no professionals, with Ruig hitting a score of 120 and being told by his caddy it would "bring great shame to their family," he recounts.
The duo were lucky enough to only finish up second last, apparently ending ahead of the Nepalese ambassador's 15-year-old daughter.
While it's an amusing story, it would be pretty easy for anyone (except South Koreans) to apply for the tournament in the hermit state -- you just have to pay US$1,110 to enter.
No sneaking in required.
Then just overestimate how good you are at the game for a killer yarn.
