Sungjae Im Eyes Masters Title Despite Tough Finish

AUGUSTA, Georgia — Sungjae Im remains a contender for the Masters Tournament title, despite finishing Friday’s second round five strokes behind the leader, Justin Rose. The 27-year-old South Korean golfer ended the day with a score of 2-under 70, leaving him tied for 12th place with 2021 Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama.

Im started strong, sinking five birdies through his first 12 holes at Augusta National Golf Club. However, the round took a turn for the worse as he encountered difficulties on the final four holes, resulting in three bogeys.

“Overall, I had a good round, so I did pretty good with my shots,” Im said. “Just the last couple holes, 15 and 16, I made bogeys. Except for that, I am pretty satisfied.” Im, who has two top-five finishes on the PGA Tour this season, finished the day with a total score of 3-under for the tournament.

He was in control for most of the round, making birdie putts on the first, second, and eighth holes, and coming within a foot of the pin on the ninth. However, his momentum fizzled toward the end. On the par-5 15th hole, his chip shot fell back into the water, and he later three-putted on the 16th from 73 feet. He capped off his round with a third bogey after landing his tee shot in the trees.

“I think No. 9 was my best shot today,” Im said, reflecting on his performance. “Overall, I feel good about my game. This course doesn’t allow many mistakes, so I tried to limit them.”

Two other South Korean players, Byeong Hun An and Tom Kim, advanced to the weekend rounds as well. An shot a 71, placing him tied for 37th, while Kim secured his place with back-to-back 73s.

Kim, who has finished T16 and T30 in his previous Masters appearances, is eager to make an impact this weekend. “I’m excited to be in the weekend. Hopefully, I can post a good number,” he said. Kim noted the challenging conditions late in the day, particularly the swirling winds that complicated play.

“It played really difficult,” Kim remarked. “The hardest part about Augusta National is its inconsistency. Playing Amen Corner was particularly tough.” Despite the challenges, he is optimistic about his chances in the upcoming rounds.