Kang Sung-hoon "5-Under Par Start~"... Munoz Leads with "10-Under Par Storm Shots"

PGA Tour 2021/2022 Season 9th Event RSM Classic Day 1 Tied 34th, World No. 17 Scheffler at 7 Under Par

Kang Sung-hoon is teeing off at the 12th hole on the first day of the RSM Classic. Sea Island, USA = Getty Images / Multibits

[Asia Economy Golf Specialist Reporter Kim Hyun-jun] "A 5-under-par start."

Kang Sung-hoon (34) tied for 34th place on the first day of the 9th event of the 2021/2022 PGA Tour season, the RSM Classic (total prize money $7.2 million), held on the 19th (Korean time) at the Sea Island Resort Plantation Course in Georgia, USA (par 72, 7,060 yards). Sebastian Munoz (Colombia) surged to the lead with 10-under-par, one stroke ahead, while Mackenzie Hughes (Canada), Jack Johnson, Scott Stallings, and Chez Reavie (all USA) are chasing in a tie for 2nd place at 9-under-par.

Kang Sung-hoon is currently in a slump, having missed the cut 17 times in 31 events this year. He is struggling due to decreased accuracy, with a fairway hit rate of 55.50% (171st on the PGA Tour) and an iron shot green hit rate of 62.02% (185th). Since September, in the new season, he has played in seven tournaments but has yet to finish even in the top 25. Fortunately, on this day, he recorded seven birdies and two bogeys. He is two strokes behind the tied 10th place, making the second round even more crucial for breaking into the top 10.

Sebastian Munoz is executing an iron shot on the 16th hole on the first day of the RSM Classic. Sea Island, USA = Getty Images / Multivitz
Photo by Multivitz

Munoz made an eagle on the 15th hole (par 5) of the Seaside Course (par 70, 7,005 yards) with a 2-on 1-putt, along with eight birdies. He showed an 88.89% green hit rate with pinpoint iron shots, and most notably, his average putts per hole were an impressive 1.44, demonstrating excellent putting. He is a player who won his first PGA Tour title at the Sanderson Farms Championship in September 2019, which was part of the 2020 season. He is once again aiming to be the "early bird" in the fall series.

World No. 17 Scottie Scheffler is a player to watch. He made seven birdies on the Seaside Course and is tied for 10th place at 7-under-par. Following a 4th place finish at the Worldwide Technology Championship and a tie for 2nd at the Houston Open, he is on an upward trend. Robert Streb (USA) is tied for 55th at 4-under-par, aiming for a "second consecutive win." He has a unique story, having won twice at this tournament alone, first in 2014 (McGladrey Classic) and last year. Adam Scott (Australia) remained tied for 83rd at 3-under-par.

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