Kim Siwoo Steady at 3-Under... Scheffler Endures 5-Over Nightmare

Genesis Invitational Round 1, 11 Holes Completed
Three Birdies Without a Bogey, Tied for Fifth
Rai Leads, McIlroy in Second, Kim Joohyung in 29th

Kim Siwoo climbed into the upper ranks on the opening day of the second Signature Event of the PGA Tour.

In the first round of the Genesis Invitational (total prize money 20 million dollars), held on the 19th (local time) at Riviera Country Club (par 71, 7,383 yards) in Los Angeles, California, he carded three birdies without a bogey through the 11th hole. Due to severe weather, play was suspended for about three hours, and the first round could not be completed.

Kim Siwoo (left) and Scheffler Scottie are walking the fairway in the first round of the Genesis Invitational. Los Angeles=AFP Yonhap News

Kim Siwoo got off to a flying start with back-to-back birdies on the 1st hole (par 5) and the 3rd hole (par 4). He then shaved another stroke on the 7th hole (par 4) and halted his round after finishing the 11th hole (par 5) with a par.

Aaron Rai of England surged to the top of the leaderboard at 6-under par through 16 holes. Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland and Jacob Bridgeman of the United States were tied for second at 5-under 66. Collin Morikawa of the United States, who won last week’s first Signature Event of the season, the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, was tied for fifth.

Kim Joo-hyung, playing as an invited player, was tied for 29th with an even-par 71. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler of the United States, who was paired with Kim Siwoo, signed for three bogeys and one double bogey. After losing as many as five strokes, he tumbled to a share of 71st place, the bottom of the 72-player field.

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