'PGA Invitation' Kim Juhyung "Even-Par Falters"... What About Round 2?

Corales Punta Cana Resort & Club Championship Day 1 Tied 94th, Straka Leads Tied at 7 Under Par

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] The steps of the '18-year-old young gun' Kim Joo-hyung (CJ Logisticsㆍphoto) are heavy.

On the 25th (Korean time), at the Corales Golf Club in the Dominican Republic (par 72ㆍ7,666 yards), the first day of the Corales Punta Cana Resort & Club Championship (total prize money $4 million) saw him falter with an even-par score, remaining tied for 94th place. He barely secured an invitation to the PGA Tour. After sweeping up three birdies in the first four holes, including the 1st hole (par 4) and consecutive birdies on the 3rd and 4th holes, it was disappointing that he made three bogeys on the 5th, 8th, and 16th holes.

Kim Joo-hyung is the youngest champion in Korean Professional Golf Association (KPGA) history. When he won the Gunsan CC Open (total prize money 500 million KRW) last July, he was 18 years and 21 days old, breaking the previous youngest record held by Lee Sang-hee (28), who was 19 years and 6 months 10 days old when he won the 2011 NH Nonghyup Open. As a top-ranked player in the world rankings, he participated in last month's major PGA Championship, and on the 14th, he made his first cut in the 2020/2021 season opener Safeway Open, finishing tied for 67th, gaining experience in the big leagues.

That day, he showcased powerful tee shots reaching up to 308 yards, missing the fairway only three times. However, his iron shots wavered, causing setbacks. Among six holes where he missed the green, he made bogeys on three, leaving short game improvement as a task. Four players, including Sepp Straka (Austria), are fiercely competing for the win, tied at 7-under par. The Korean contingent includes Bae Sang-moon (34) tied for 78th at 1-under par, and Lee Kyung-hoon (29ㆍCJ Logistics) tied for 118th at 2-over par.

Defending champion Graeme McDowell (Northern Ireland) is tied for 46th at 2-under par, hoping for a perfect match with the course where he shot 8-under par on the third day last year. He clinched a one-stroke victory, reaching his fourth PGA Tour win after a long gap of 3 years and 5 months since the OHL Classic in November 2015. Locally, another 18-year-old, Axay Bhatia (USA), is drawing attention off the course. He turned professional immediately after high school graduation. He is tied for 29th at 3-under par.

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