Kim Juhyung 7-Under Smile... "Changing the Putter Was Effective"

Kim Joo-hyung smiled for the first time in a while.

Kim Juhyung is teeing off at the 3rd hole during the 2nd round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Pebble Beach=AFP·Yonhap News

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On the 31st (local time), at the Pebble Beach Golf Links (par 72, 6,972 yards) in Pebble Beach, California, USA, during the second round of the PGA Tour AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am (total prize money $20 million), he swept up seven birdies without a single bogey, jumping to a tie for 4th place (10-under 134). Jeb Straka (Austria), who won the American Express earlier this year, lowered his score by seven strokes to take the lead (14-under 130).

Kim Joo-hyung posted the best score among the players in the second round, including sinking about a 10-meter birdie putt on the 10th hole (par 4). Since achieving his third PGA Tour win at the 2023 Shriners Children's Open in October, he is challenging for his fourth career victory in this tournament. Changing his putter was a key factor. From the TGL screen golf tournament earlier this week, he started using a Scotty Cameron Studio Style Newport 2 putter.

In a post-round interview, Kim said, "I thought I needed a bit more consistency in putting," and explained, "It's not exactly the same type I used when I won before, but switching from a mallet putter to a blade putter gave me some adjustments." The PGA Tour reported, "Kim Joo-hyung switched back to a blade putter this time after using a mallet putter since the Paris Olympics last year."

Russell Henley (USA), who was the leader the previous day, is tied for 2nd place (11-under 133) along with Cam Davis (Australia). Justin Rose (England) and Tony Finau (USA) are tied for 4th. Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) is tied for 13th (8-under 136), and world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler (USA) finished the second round tied for 20th (7-under 137). From Korea, Kim Si-woo is tied for 32nd (6-under 138), while Im Sung-jae and An Byeong-hun are tied for 47th (4-under 140).

This tournament is a signature event ranked just below the four major championships and The Players Championship. Only 80 players participated, including the top 50 in last year's FedEx Cup rankings, this year's tour winners, PGA Tour members ranked within the top 30 in the world, and the top 10 in this year's FedEx Cup among players without other qualifications. The first and second rounds are alternated between Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course (par 72, 7,041 yards), with the third and fourth rounds held at Pebble Beach Golf Links.

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