Sungjae Im Sees Genesis Championship Charge Stall After Penalty And Degreened Putt In Manic 30 Minute Spell

The South Korean had been in contention for victory in his homeland, before a disastrous spell in the third round derailed his chances

Sungjae Im at the Baycurrent Classic
Sungjae Im had a disastrous spell in the third round of the Genesis Championship
(Image credit: Getty Images)
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With one round to play and seven shots to make up on the overnight leaders at the Genesis Championship, Sungjae Im’s search for his maiden DP World Tour win looks set to continue.

The South Korean finished Saturday’s play tied for 39th on one under in his homeland as Nacho Elvira and Mikael Lindberg set the pace at the top of the leaderboard on eight under.

However, for a long time, it looked as though the two-time PGA Tour winner would be well in contention heading into Sunday’s action at Woo Jeong Hills Country Club.

Sungjae Im at the Genesis Championship

Im had been in contention for his maiden DP World Tour win

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Im carded rounds of 69 and 67 to leave him well positioned ahead of the third round, and he had been going along steadily enough on Saturday.

Despite some issues with his putting, he was tied for the lead at one point and even for the day after his first 11 holes before a disastrous 30-minute spell saw his chances of remaining in the hunt for victory fall away.

Im’s problems really began on the par-4 12th. After finding the rough with his tee shot, he incurred a one-stroke penalty as, reportedly, his ball moved at address. As a result, Im could only manage a bogey.

At the next hole, a par 3, he almost put that disappointment behind him in style when a long putt for birdie appeared destined for the hole before it missed left by a whisker.

However, that wasn’t the only concern, with the pace of the putt taking the ball off the green and within inches of a watery end. Im nearly saved par from that perilous position, but again needed to settle for a bogey as his unraveling continued.

It didn't get better after that, with further bogeys at the 14th and 15, before yet another at the 17th, as he eventually completed a five-over round of 76 to leave him facing an uphill task to recover on Sunday.

Im's appearance in the Genesis Championship marks his third event in the Far East this month. He also played at the PGA Tour's Baycurrent Classic in Japan, where he finished tied for 20th.

Last week, he competed at the Asian Tour's SJM Macao Open, where he placed tied for seventh.

Mike Hall
Mike Hall
News Writer

Mike has over 25 years of experience in journalism, including writing on a range of sports throughout that time, such as golf, football and cricket. Now a freelance staff writer for Golf Monthly, he is dedicated to covering the game's most newsworthy stories. 


He has written hundreds of articles on the game, from features offering insights into how members of the public can play some of the world's most revered courses, to breaking news stories affecting everything from the PGA Tour and LIV Golf to developmental Tours and the amateur game. 


Mike grew up in East Yorkshire and began his career in journalism in 1997. He then moved to London in 2003 as his career flourished, and nowadays resides in New Brunswick, Canada, where he and his wife raise their young family less than a mile from his local course. 


Kevin Cook’s acclaimed 2007 biography, Tommy’s Honour, about golf’s founding father and son, remains one of his all-time favourite sports books.

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