Siwoo Kim "Fails to Advance to Round of 16 Despite 2 Wins"... Seongjae Lim Eliminated with 1 Win and 2 Losses

Dell Technologies Match Play Group Stage Day 3: World No.1 Jon Rahm, No.2 Morikawa, and Defending Champion Hojel Advance to Round of 16

Kim Si-woo is looking at the ball immediately after his tee shot on the 8th hole on the third day of the Dell Technologies Match Play. Austin, USA=Getty Images/Multibits

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] "The group draw was disappointing."

Kim Si-woo (27) secured two wins in the group stage but still failed to advance to the round of 16. On the 26th (Korean time) at the Austin Golf Club in Texas, USA (par 71, 7,108 yards), during the third day of the World Golf Championships (WGC) Series Dell Technologies Match Play (total prize money $12 million), he crushed Christiaan Bezuidenhout (South Africa) by 6 holes but was stopped by Tyrrell Hatton's (England) three wins. The format divides 64 players into 16 groups, conducting a preliminary round like the World Cup soccer, and then the top player from each group advances to the round of 16 for a one-on-one match play.

Kim Si-woo took an early lead by 5 holes in the first 9 holes, including the 1st hole (par 4) and holes 4 to 7. He made a birdie on the 4th hole (par 4) and even an eagle with a 39-yard shot on the 5th hole (par 4). He also made consecutive birdies on the 6th and 7th holes. Although he lost the 11th hole (par 3) in the back nine, he quickly sealed the match with 'stepping stone birdies' on the 12th and 14th holes. Daniel Berger (USA) defeated Hatton, so the scenario where all three players had 2 wins and 1 loss to go into a playoff did not occur.

Im Sung-jae is putting on the 9th hole of the third day of the Dell Technologies Match Play. Austin, USA - Photo by Getty Images/Multibits

In fact, world number one Jon Rahm (Spain), Scottie Scheffler, Will Zalatoris, Taylor Gooch (all USA), Seamus Power (Ireland), and Takumi Kanaya (Japan) all reached the round of 16 with a 2-1 record. Im Sung-jae (24) lost to Patrick Cantlay by 2 holes, finishing with 1 win and 2 losses. Although he started strong with a birdie on the first hole (par 4), Cantlay quickly took three holes in a row with consecutive birdies from holes 4 to 6, and Im was pressured throughout the match.

Along with Hatton, Corey Conners (Canada), Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, and Kevin Kisner all achieved 'unstoppable 3 consecutive wins,' and No. 2 ranked Collin Morikawa joined the round of 16 with a 2 wins and 1 draw record by narrowly defeating Jason Kokrak (both USA) by 1 hole. It is interesting that only three top 10 ranked players?Rahm, Morikawa, and Scheffler?survived. Viktor Hovland (Norway), Cantlay, Justin Thomas, and Xander Schauffele were victims of the 'lower-ranked rebellion.'

Defending champion Billy Horschel (USA) showed strong finishing power. Trailing Thomas Pieters (Belgium) by 2 holes, he made consecutive birdies on the 17th and 18th holes to force a draw, finishing with 2 wins and 1 draw. On the other hand, Pieters missed his playoff chance as his 2.1m birdie putt on the 18th hole (par 4) just brushed the hole. 'Hulk' Bryson DeChambeau (USA) recorded 1 draw and 2 losses, unable to make an impact due to a wrist injury. The round of 16 and quarterfinals will continue consecutively on the 27th.

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