Juhyung Kim Takes on Team Event...Aiming to End Winless Drought

Competing in Zurich Classic, the PGA Tour's Only Two-Man Team Event
Teaming Up with Kevin Yu from Taiwan in Pursuit of Victory
Winners Earn Two-Year Exemption and FedEx Cup Points

Juhyung Kim is aiming to end his winless streak.

On April 23 (local time), he will compete in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, a PGA Tour event held at TPC Louisiana (par 72, 7,425 yards) in Avondale, Louisiana, United States. Kim is the only Korean player in the field.

This tournament is the only team event on the PGA Tour. Players compete in pairs as a two-person team. The first and third rounds use the four-ball format, where both players play their own ball and the better score counts as the team score. The second and fourth rounds use the foursomes format, where the teammates alternate shots with the same ball.

Juhyung Kim challenges for victory in the two-person team competition at the Zurich Classic. Photo by AFP Yonhap News

This year, a total of 148 players will form 74 teams to compete for the title. The winners will receive a two-year exemption and 400 FedEx Cup points each. No world ranking points are awarded. Since the prize money and FedEx Cup points are smaller compared to other tournaments, top-ranked players do not participate. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler (United States) and World No. 2 Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) are not in the field.

Juhyung Kim, who has three career PGA Tour victories, will be seeking another win after a long break. He is teaming up with Kevin Yu from Taiwan. Kim has not added a trophy since winning the Shriners Children’s Open in October 2023, nearly three years ago.

This season, Kim has played in nine PGA Tour events, with his best result being a tie for 18th at the Valspar Championship last month. Korean players have previously won this event—K.J. Choi in 2002 and Noh Seung-yul in 2014—though at that time, it was an individual competition rather than a team event.

World No. 3 Matt Fitzpatrick (England) is also drawing attention. Last week, he claimed his fourth career PGA Tour victory by winning a playoff against Scheffler at the signature event, RBC Heritage. Fitzpatrick is teaming up with his younger brother, Alex, targeting back-to-back wins and a third title this season. Alex won the DP World Tour’s Hero Indian Open last month. The Fitzpatrick brothers are ranked No. 1 in the PGA Tour’s power rankings for this event.

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