Lee Kyung-hoon 'Resting', Kim Si-woo 'Ready to Go'... Rematch with Cantlay?

Taylor Defends Title with 2nd Win at Celebrity-Free AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Mickelson in Victory Hunt

Siwoo Kim challenges for his second win of the season once again at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] Kim Si-woo (26, CJ Logistics) has once again embarked on a quest for his second victory.

The battleground is the PGA Tour AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am (total prize money $7.8 million), opening on the night of the 11th (Korean time) at Pebble Beach Golf Links in California, USA (par 72, 7,051 yards). Every year, this stage features world-class sports stars, singers, and actors playing the first three rounds in a pro-am format. However, this year, due to the impact of COVID-19, only players are participating. Only two courses, including Spyglass Hill (par 72, 7,041 yards), are being used.

Kim Si-woo is riding a wave of momentum after securing his first win of the season at the American Express on the 25th of last month. He rose to global stardom overnight by winning the Wyndham Championship in August 2016 and the Players Championship, known as the 'fifth major,' in 2017. Since then, it is surprising that he has fallen into a slump, with only one runner-up and two third-place finishes. He suffered from chronic back injuries and missed several winning opportunities, which also affected his mental game.

However, at the American Express, his 'needle-like iron shots' with an average green hit rate of 81.94% over four rounds showed their power. He recorded one eagle, 23 birdies, and only two bogeys over two rounds. His green play was also overwhelming, with an average of 1.61 putts per hole (ranked first). Above all, Kim Si-woo is looking forward to his 'Masters ticket' this coming April. He said, "My tee shots were shaky during the Farmers Open and Phoenix Open," and added, "I am refining my shots," showing his fighting spirit.

Patrick Cantlay will have a rematch with Kim Si-woo at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

Patrick Cantlay is a player to watch. He surged to 11 under par on the final day of the American Express to finish second. This adds a 'return match' aspect with Kim Si-woo. Cantlay secured his first win of the 2021 season early at the Zozo Championship last October and is eyeing a second victory. Locally, the absence of world number one Dustin Johnson (USA) is a hot topic. He chose to rest after winning the European Tour's Saudi International on the 7th.

This tournament is also Johnson’s 'home turf,' where he annually played alongside his father-in-law, Wayne Gretzky (Canada), a legendary ice hockey figure. It seems he is preparing for major events such as the Genesis Invitational (total prize money $9.3 million) on the night of the 19th and the World Golf Championships (WGC) Series at The Concession (total prize money $10.5 million) on the 26th. Paul Casey (England), the Omega Dubai Desert Classic champion, is another strong contender.

Nick Taylor (Canada) is defending his title, and veteran Phil Mickelson is aiming for his sixth win following victories in 1998, 2005, 2007, 2012, and 2019. Jordan Spieth (USA) has emerged as a dark horse, going 10 under par on the third day of the Phoenix Open, signaling a 'comeback mode.' From Korea, Lee Kyung-hoon (30), the runner-up at the Phoenix Open, is taking a rare rest, while Kang Sung-hoon (34, CJ Logistics), Noh Seung-yul (30), and 'Tank' Choi Kyung-ju (51, SK Telecom) have joined the field.

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