Im Seong-jae (23), who appeared in the new year’s first tournament, was swept away from the first day.
Im Seong-jae captured 7 birdies in the first round of the US Professional Golf (PGA) Tour Century Tournament of Champions ($6.7 million in prize money) held at the Kapalua Resort Plantation Course (par 73) in Kapalua, Hawaii, USA on the 8th (Korean time). I hit 6 under par 67.
Im Seong-jae, who was tied for third place, two shots behind Justin Thomas and Harris English (above the United States), who hit 8-under par, finished preparing to compete for the championship.
Last year, only 42 people, including the winners of the tour competition and the participants of the tour championship, participated in the competition, and Im Seong-jae, who appeared for the first time in the first nine holes, only reduced one stroke to two buddies and one bogie.
In the second half, Im Seong-jae’s sharp shot came out.
He pulled out a buddy for holes 10-14 in a row and quickly hit the top of the line.
All five buddies came from within 3m, and three shots were accurate enough to be close to the tap-in buddy.
Hole 15 (par 5) It was regrettable that Buddy Putt, less than 2m away, slightly moved away from the hole, and the brakes were applied in the upward trend.
Im Seong-jae couldn’t raise the ranks anymore because the ball tee-shot on the 18th hole (par 5) where the birdies poured out was bad luck that entered the divot in the middle of the fairway, and the 3-meter birdie putt missed.
Last year, the champion of this tournament, Justin Thomas (USA), cut off 8 birdies without looking, and started a powerful start to win the tournament for the second time and for the third time in his career.
English tied 1 Eagle, 7 Birdies, and 1 Bogie to write 65 strokes.
Dustin Johnson (USA), the world’s No. 1 player, who is also aiming to win the tournament for the third time, ended the first day with a tie for 30th place, reducing two strokes while struggling on the green.
Sergio Garcia (Spain), Nick Tyler (Canada), and Patrick Reed (USA) were tied for third place with Lim Sung-jae.
Powerful long hitter Bryson Dishambo (USA) tied for 12th with a 4 under par 69.
He hit a tee shot of 389 yards from the 7th hole (par 4) and 386 yards from the 18th hole, but never hitting more than 400 yards.
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