Kim Sunghyun Opens With 1-Under...Tied for 38th

Best Korean Finish in WM Phoenix Open Round 1
Gotterup Leads, Fitzpatrick Second, Lee Seungtaek Tied for 56th
Scheffler, Kim Siwoo, and Kim Joohyung Tied for 89th

Kim Sunghyun was the only Korean player to start under par.

On February 5 (local time), at the TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course (par 71, 7,261 yards) in Scottsdale, Arizona, United States, he carded six birdies, three bogeys, and one double bogey in the first round of the WM Phoenix Open, the fourth event of the 2026 PGA Tour season with a total purse of 9.6 million dollars. With a 1-under 70, Kim Sunghyun finished the day tied for 38th. Some players were unable to complete their rounds due to sunset.

Kim Seonghyun is hitting an iron shot at the 3rd hole during the first round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Scottsdale (USA) = AFP Yonhap News

He offset a bogey on his opening 10th hole (par 4) with a birdie on the 12th (par 3), but made a double bogey on the 13th (par 5) after hitting his second shot into the water. He lost two strokes over his first 11 holes, then showed his resilience by reeling off three consecutive birdies on holes 2 through 4. A bogey on the 6th (par 4) was immediately recovered with a birdie on the 7th (par 3). Kim Sunghyun lost his PGA Tour card in 2024 and went down to the Korn Ferry Tour (second tier), but returned to the regular tour this year.

Chris Gotterup of the United States surged to the top of the leaderboard with an 8-under 63. Matt Fitzpatrick of England is eyeing a comeback opportunity in second place, two shots back, at 6-under 65. Nicolai Hojgaard of Denmark is tied for third at 5-under 66, and Daniel Berger of the United States is tied for seventh at 4-under 67.

Lee Seungtaek traded three birdies with three bogeys to place tied for 56th at even-par 71. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler of the United States, who won The American Express last month, lost two strokes with five birdies, five bogeys, and one double bogey, and is tied for 89th at 2-over 73 along with Kim Siwoo, Kim Joohyung, and others. Brooks Koepka of the United States, who returned from LIV Golf, is tied for 116th at 4-over 75.

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