Teen titan Noh Seung-yul is a young man with grand ambitions as the Korean returns to next week's GS Caltex Maekyung Open.

But utmost on the 17-year-old's mind will be far bigger goals which include winning the Asian Tour's Order of Merit and "becoming the best player in the world."

The slender but ultra-talented youngster has emerged as one of the biggest success stories on the Asian Tour since he burst onto the scene with one win and three runner-up finishes in 2008.

Through the opportunity of competing against the region's finest on the Asian Tour, Noh is now tipped for greater rewards and he has maintained his good form this season with two top-10s to lie in 13th place on the Order of Merit.

"I want to win the Asian Tour's Order of Merit within the next three years and emulate K.J. Choi," declared Noh, who was named last year's Rookie of the Year.

"Golf is my job. But I want to enjoy what I'm doing as a professional golfer. At the same time, I want to try to become the best player in the world. That's my ultimate goal."

Noh's bold statements may be construed as arrogance but those who have competed against him know he's the real deal.

At the Maekyung Open which is sanctioned with the Korean Golf Association last year, he agonisingly missed the chance of making history when compatriot Hwang Inn-choon denied him victory in a play-off. If Noh had won, he would have become the youngest ever winner on the Asian Tour.

Choi, Korea's most successful golf export from the Asian Tour and a winner of seven titles on the US PGA Tour, was highly impressed when he played with Noh in a practice round during the Barclays Singapore Open last year.

"I was very pleasantly surprised and moved by how good they were," said Choi, who was also referring to another Korean-born talent Danny Lee of New Zealand.

"They are still growing and maturing but it seems they have already matured to another level. They are the total package and can become stars on the Asian Tour and around the world. They have the talent to move to the European Tour and the PGA Tour."

Noh said he has benefited immensely through his short time on the Asian Tour where he feels the high standard of play has forced him to improve and grind out top results

"Playing against the best on the Asian Tour has provided me with the exposure and opportunity to play better," said Noh, who earned his card through Qualifying School in 2008.

"I want to play every day as I'm still young. I can still learn. I had a good year last year but I can still learn."

He started hitting golf balls at the beach near his home when he was seven years old and in a matter of seven years, he became so good that the Korean Golf Association invited him to compete in the Maekyung Open in 2006 on the Asian Tour where he made the halfway cut as a 14 year old, becoming the third youngest to play in all four rounds on Tour.

After his near brush with glory last year where he failed to capitalise on a two-shot lead heading into the final round, Noh is strongly tipped to contend again for the title at Nam Seoul Country Club next week.

If he does win, it would only mean another tiny step towards his dream of becoming one of the best players in the world.