On May 23, during the second round at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas, Kim Si-woo recorded 12 birdies and only one bogey, finishing with an 11-under 60. This score ties his personal best on the PGA Tour, which he set during the first round of the 2016 Wyndham Championship.
With a total of 18-under 124, Kim moved from a tie for fourth place to sole possession of the lead, five strokes ahead of Im Sung-jae, Hirata Kensei (Japan), Scottie Scheffler, Wyndham Clark, and Jackson Suber (all from the U.S.), who are tied for second at 13-under 129.
Kim started strong with a birdie on the first hole (par 4) and added birdies on the third (par 4), fifth (par 5), sixth (par 4), seventh (par 3), and ninth (par 5) holes. His momentum continued into the back nine, where he made three consecutive birdies from the tenth (par 4) to the twelfth (par 5) holes, followed by two more on the fourteenth (par 4) and fifteenth (par 3) holes. He added another birdie on the seventeenth (par 3) but ended with a bogey on the eighteenth (par 4).
After the round, Kim said, "I feel good overall, even though the last hole was disappointing. I putted well, just like I practiced. With two rounds left, I will strive to continue playing well."
Kim is aiming for his fifth PGA Tour victory, his first since the 2023 Sony Open. He stated, "I plan to approach the course the same way as in previous rounds. Although I have a six-shot lead, all players are performing well. I will focus on making as many birdies as possible."
His score of 61 marks a new personal best on the PGA Tour, surpassing his previous record of 62 set at the 2019 Wyndham Championship.
Im made his hole-in-one on the seventh hole (par 3). This is his third hole-in-one in a PGA Tour event, following his achievements in the second round of the 2019 Players Championship and the first round of the Military Tribute that same year.
After adding an eagle on the ninth hole (par 5), Im finished the day with a total of 10-under 61, bringing his overall score to 13-under 129, placing him in a tie for second.
Im expressed satisfaction after the round, saying, "It was a satisfying day overall. My tee shots, iron shots, and putting were all good. I was surprised by the hole-in-one, as I thought it was a good shot but didn’t expect it to go in. I’ll keep the lucky ball in my bag."
With this momentum, Im is seeking his third career victory, his first since the Shriners Children's Open in October 2021. He remarked, "When my shots are good, I feel like I can compete for the win. This week feels like my third opportunity. If the weather is good this weekend, I think I can play aggressively on this course. If the greens cooperate, I can create many birdie opportunities. I want to take advantage of this momentum."
Im also expressed confidence in his ability to compete for the title, stating, "It’s been about 4-5 years since I last won. However, I have been in contention twice this year. These experiences are definitely helpful. Competing for the win brings some tension and pressure, but having already experienced it this year, I plan to manage my emotions and focus on my play."
World No. 1 and defending champion Scottie Scheffler moved up from a tie for sixteenth to a tie for second, recording one eagle and eight birdies without any bogeys.
Among other Korean players, Noh Seung-yul is tied for twenty-third with a total of 9-under 133, Bae Yong-joon is tied for thirty-eighth at 8-under 134, and Kim Joo-hyung is tied for fifty-first at 7-under 135. Lee Kyung-hoon missed the cut.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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