Three South Korean PGA Tour players will each be in pursuit of their first career major title when they tee off at the Masters this week.
At No. 25, two-time tour winner Im Sung-jae is the highest-ranked player of the trio that will play at the iconic Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, about a two-hour drive east of Atlanta. Im is followed by Tom Kim (No. 33) and An Byeong-hun (No. 35). Kim has three PGA Tour titles, and An has yet to win on the top men’s circuit.
No South Korean has donned the famed green jacket, presented to the Masters champion each year, and Im owns the record for the best performance by a South Korean player, with his runner-up finish in his Masters debut in 2020.
Im, usually a model of consistency, has been stuck in neutral after recording two top-five finishes in his first three tournaments of the year. In seven starts since, Im has missed two cuts and has not had a top-10 showing.
He has also been up and down in majors since 2023, with three top-20 finishes and five missed cuts.
Kim has fared even worse, with one top-10 finish in nine starts with three missed cuts. He ended 2024 ranked No. 21 but has fallen a dozen spots.
Kim has been inside the top 30 in seven of his past 10 major starts, including his two recent Masters appearances.
An has also missed three cuts out of his nine tournaments with one top-10 finish. He will be playing at his sixth Masters but only his third since 2017. He tied for 16th to lead all South Korean players in 2024, two strokes out of the top 10.
Due to their recent form, none of these three players will be considered a favorite this week. But Im told Yonhap News Agency on the weekend that he feels he can have a strong tournament this week if he can execute the shots he wants to hit at Augusta.
“Of the four major championships, I think the Masters is probably the most-watched event, and that makes it that much more special,” Im said. “If I can play the shots I want, then I can expect good results at this tournament.”
Im said he is frustrated with his recent downturn, adding: “It’s not as though I’ve been making big mistakes, but I have been following up birdies with bogeys. I’ve got to find answers quickly.”
Numbers show that Im has been solid with his driver and his putter, but he has been struggling with his iron play and shots around the green.
“I’ve been mistake-prone with my wedges lately,” said Im, who recently switched to the same putter model that helped him finish second at the 2020 Masters.
“I want to get through the first couple of rounds. I will be really grateful if I can crack the top 10,” he said. “At Augusta, you have to be really precise with your shots. Even when you get into trouble, you must try to avoid making double bogeys. And when you grab a chance to make birdie, you have to bear down.”
After his practice Monday at Augusta, An told South Korean reporters he will try to crack the top 10 this year.
“It’s always special to play at the Masters,” he said. “I just missed out on the top 10, but since I am feeling pretty good this week, I’d love to be inside the top 10 this time.” (Yonhap)
