South Korean Golfers Chase Major Glory at Masters 2025

SEOUL, South Korea — Three South Korean golfers are on the hunt for their first major championship title as they prepare to compete in the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club beginning Thursday, April 11, 2025.

Leading the trio is Im Sung-jae, ranked 25th in the world and a two-time PGA Tour winner. He is joined by Tom Kim (No. 33) and An Byeong-hun (No. 35). While Im is the highest-ranked of the three, Kim boasts three PGA Tour titles and An has yet to secure a victory on the circuit.

No South Korean has ever won the prestigious green jacket awarded to the Masters champion. Im set the record for the best performance by a South Korean player with his runner-up finish during his Masters debut in 2020, a feat he hopes to replicate this year.

However, 2025 has been a challenging year for Im, who has struggled after starting strong with two top-five finishes in his first three tournaments. Since then, he has missed two cuts and has yet to place in the top 10 in any of his following seven outings.

In majors, Im has recorded three top-20 finishes along with five missed cuts since 2023. He remarked to Yonhap News Agency, “Of the four major championships, I think the Masters is probably the most-watched event, and that makes it that much more special. If I can play the shots I want, then I can expect good results.”

Im expressed his frustration regarding his recent performance, acknowledging that he has been inconsistent. “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,” he said, pinpointing struggles with his iron play and around-the-green shots as key issues.

Im further noted, “I want to get through the first couple of rounds. I will be really grateful if I can crack the top 10. 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 a practice round on Monday ahead of the tournament, An conveyed his aspirations for a strong performance this week, stating, “It’s always special to play at the Masters.” He has previously tied for 16th in 2024, just two strokes outside the top 10.

As the tournament commenced, Im shot a solid one-under 71, placing him tied for 11th at the end of the first round. His steady performance included three birdies and a bogey, positioning him six strokes behind the leader, Justin Rose, who opened with a seven-under 65.

Among the other South Korean competitors, Kim carded a 73, which included an eagle on the par-5 13th despite not scoring a birdie. He remarked, “At Augusta, you can easily make bogeys if you’re not careful. I tried to stay patient and learned a great deal.”

An Byeong-hun faced a more tumultuous round, finishing with a two-over 74 after recording four birdies, four bogeys, and a double bogey. He summarized his experience, saying, “You can’t afford to be too aggressive here, but at the same time, if you play it too safe, you won’t get the opportunities.”