Im Sungjae "Ties for 8th in First Tournament of the New Year"... Smith "Defeats World No. 1"

PGA Tour Sentry Tournament Final Day 4-Under Par Stumble, Smith Wins 'Wire to Wire', Ram Finishes 2nd by One Stroke

Im Sung-jae is examining the putting line on the 1st hole on the final day of the Sentry Tournament. Hawaii (USA) = Getty Images / Photo by Multibits

[Asia Economy Golf Specialist Reporter Kim Hyun-jun] "Top 10 is rather disappointing."

'Shriners Champ' Im Sung-jae (24) finished in the 'Top 10' at the first event of the 2022 PGA Tour. On the 10th (Korean time), at the Plantation Course of Kapalua Resort on Maui Island, Hawaii (par 73, 7,596 yards), he added a 4-under-par on the final day of the Sentry Tournament (total prize money $8.2 million) to finish tied for 8th place (24-under-par 268). Cameron Smith (Australia) achieved a 'wire-to-wire' victory (34-under-par 258). The winner's prize money was $1,476,000 (17.7 billion KRW).

Im Sung-jae started from a tie for 4th place and recorded 5 birdies and 1 bogey. He had a good start with a birdie on the 4th hole (par 4), and the bogey on the 6th hole (par 4) was recovered with a '2-on 2-putt' birdie on the 9th hole (par 5). He made consecutive birdies on the 14th and 15th holes in the back nine, and sank a long 8.1m birdie putt on the final 18th hole (par 5). Despite a maximum drive of 381 yards, a fairway hit rate of 86.67%, and a greens in regulation rate of 77.78%, he was ultimately held back on the greens. His average putts per hole were 1.86.

It is interesting that Im Sung-jae secured his first win early in the 2022 season at the Shriners Children's Open last November. He is effectively on a 'two-win march' from the start of the new year. He will challenge for another victory at the 'second Hawaii event,' the Sony Open (total prize money $7.5 million), which continues on the night of the 13th. From Korea, Kim Si-woo (27) finished tied for 23rd (17-under-par 275), and Lee Kyoung-hoon (31, both from CJ Logistics) finished tied for 33rd (13-under-par 279).

Cameron Smith is cheering while holding the trophy immediately after winning the Sentry Tournament. Hawaii (USA) = Getty Images / Multibits Photo by Getty Images

Locally, the big news is that Smith defeated world number one Jon Rahm (Spain). After an 8-under-par on the first day to seize the initiative, he followed with consecutive 9-under-par rounds in the 2nd and 3rd rounds, and an 8-under-par in the 4th round to clinch a one-stroke victory. Last April, he reached his third career win at the Zurich Classic, a two-man team event, alongside Marc Leishman (Australia). He gained even more spotlight by sharing his first PGA Tour victory at the same event in 2017 with Jonas Blixt (Sweden).

In January 2020, Smith demonstrated his particular strength against the strong winds in Hawaii by winning the Sony Open. On the third day and the final day, he played alongside Rahm, engaging in a match-play style close contest, which became a highlight. Rahm led the field with a course record 12-under-par in the 3rd round to tie for the lead but finished 2nd (33-under-par 259) after a 7-under-par 4th round, disappointed. Matt Jones (Australia) surged with two eagles and a 12-under-par round to finish 3rd (32-under-par 260), while 'Number 2' Collin Morikawa (USA) finished tied for 5th (25-under-par 267).

World No. 1 Jon Rahm is teeing off on the 9th hole on the final day of the Sentry Tournament. Hawaii, USA = Getty Images / Multivitz

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