Sungjae Im "Maintained No.1 PO Ranking"... Burger Wins in Playoff Extension

Charles Schwab Challenge Final Day Adds 3 Under Par for Tied 10th "Sixth Top 10 of 2020 Season", 'Fit' DeChambeau 3rd

Im Sung-jae is looking at the ball after his tee shot on the 6th hole on the final day of the Charles Schwab Challenge. Fort Worth, Texas, USA = Getty Images / Multibits

[Asia Economy Golf Specialist Reporter Kim Hyun-jun] "Maintaining PO Ranking No. 1."

Im Sung-jae (22, CJ Logistics) finished tied for 10th place (11-under 269) by shooting 3-under par on the final day of the Charles Schwab Challenge (total prize money $7.5 million) held on the 15th (Korean time) at Colonial Golf Club (par 70, 7,209 yards) near Fort Worth, Texas, USA. This marks his sixth top-10 finish this season following his March Honda Classic victory and third place at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. The winner was Daniel Berger (USA) in a playoff.

Starting tied for 19th, five strokes behind the leader, Im carded five birdies and two bogeys. He opened with back-to-back birdies on holes 1 and 3, swapped a bogey on hole 5 (par 4) for a birdie on hole 6 (par 4). A disappointing three-putt bogey on the back nine 11th hole (par 5) was offset by birdies on the 12th (par 4) and 14th (par 4) holes to close out his round. His iron shot green hit rate was 72.22%, and his impressive average of 1.69 putts per hole stood out.

Most importantly for Im Sung-jae, he proudly maintained the 'PO No. 1' position in the title race against Justin Thomas (USA). Thomas had already secured two wins early this season, at The CJ Cup last October (counted in the 2020 season) and the Sentry Tournament of Champions last January, placing him first in earnings and second in the playoff (PO) rankings. Thomas started tied for second, just one stroke behind, aiming for his third win but struggled on the greens and lost a stroke, finishing tied for 10th.

Daniel Berger is holding the trophy and posing for a commemorative photo immediately after winning the Charles Schwab Challenge. Fort Worth, Texas, USA = Getty Images / Multivitz

Berger surged with a 4-under round to tie with Collin Morikawa (USA) at 15-under 265, then clinched the victory with a par on the first playoff hole at the 17th (par 4). This was his third PGA Tour win, coming three years after back-to-back FedEx St. Jude Classic titles in 2016 and 2017, with a winner's prize of $1.35 million (?1.624 billion). He celebrated, saying, "I took some time to recharge," and credited rest and treatment for finger and wrist injuries.

The win was especially meaningful as it came immediately after the season resumed following a suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic after The Players Championship in March. 'Fitness enthusiast' Bryson DeChambeau (USA) tied for third place (14-under 266). He recently made headlines by increasing his body mass to boost driving distance, adding 9 kg twice?from 91 kg last winter to now. He currently leads the tour in average driving distance at 321.3 yards.

Justin Rose (England) and Jason Kokrak (USA) also joined the tie for third. World No. 1 Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland), however, struggled with a 4-over round and dropped to tied 32nd (6-under 274). His iron shots faltered, missing the green 10 times, and he recorded three birdies, five bogeys, and a double bogey on the 7th hole (par 4), a critical blow. From Korea, An Byeong-hun (29, CJ Logistics) finished tied for 60th (1-over 281).

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.