Sungjae Im "5 Consecutive Weeks on Tour"... "This Time, a Golf Escape~"

Simpson Defends Title Facing World No.2 Rahm at Phoenix Open, Thomas, Schauffele, McIlroy "World Stars All Assembled"

Im Sung-jae (left) will face world No. 2 Jon Rahm at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] It is the ‘5th consecutive week of participation’ for Im Sung-jae (23, CJ Logistics), ranked 17th in the world.

On the night of the 4th (Korean time), he declared his participation in the Waste Management Phoenix Open (total prize money $7.3 million), which opens at Scottsdale TPC (par 71, 7,261 yards) in Scottsdale, Arizona, USA. Defending champion Webb Simpson (USA) is aiming to defend his title, and world stars such as No. 2 Jon Rahm (Spain), Justin Thomas, Xander Schauffele (both USA), and Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) are all gathered.

This is already Im Sung-jae’s 5th event in 2021. He achieved his first victory last March at the Honda Classic, and in November at the ‘Fall Masters,’ he clashed with world No. 1 Dustin Johnson (USA) in the final day’s champion group and finished second, gaining momentum. At the end of last year, he established a solid base camp by purchasing a home inside Sugarloaf TPC in Atlanta, Georgia. This year, he is also on the rise, finishing tied for 5th in the first tournament, the Sentry Tournament.

Moreover, this tournament is the only ‘golf liberation zone’ in the global golf world where drinking and loud cheering are allowed. Spectators drink beer and shout loudly if they are dissatisfied with a shot. It attracts a massive ‘cloud gallery’ of 700,000 people. The 16th hole (par 3) even has a huge stand that can accommodate up to 30,000 people, resembling the Roman Colosseum. On the pathway to the 17th hole (par 4), interactive communication continues as fans take commemorative photos with players.

The Phoenix Open is famous as a "golf liberation zone" where drinking and loud cheering are allowed. A view of the 16th hole at the Scottsdale Golf Course, the venue.

COVID-19 remains a variable. The PGA Tour was shut down last March right after the first round of ‘The Players Championship,’ known as the ‘5th major,’ and resumed in June with the Charles Schwab Challenge under ‘no spectators’ conditions, allowing only 2,000 people at the Houston Open in November. Allowing 5,000 spectators daily at the Phoenix Open is somewhat fortunate. The organizers explained, “We will ensure safety through strict quarantine rules,” adding, “Although it is outdoors, social distancing will be maintained and masks must be worn.”

Simpson recalls the thrilling memory of winning last year after a playoff battle with Tony Finau (USA), who is seeking ‘revenge.’ Rahm is the ‘top favorite’ to win. It is noteworthy that he has adapted to new golf clubs. He switched from TaylorMade, which he used for the past five years, to Callaway, focusing on hitting the sweet spot. He successfully landed with 7th place finishes at both the Sentry Tournament and the Farmers Insurance Open.

Thomas urgently needs to overcome the humiliation of missing the cut during his ‘Abu Dhabi expedition.’ The pressure from his ‘anti-gay remarks’ during the Sentry Tournament is weighing on him. McIlroy is another contender. He fine-tuned his competitive shot sense with a tied 16th place finish at the Farmers Insurance Open. Korea is supported by ‘American Express Champion’ Kim Si-woo (26), An Byeong-hun (30), Kang Sung-hoon (34), and Lee Kyoung-hoon (30, all CJ Logistics).

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