“Iron Man” Seong-jae Lim (25) hit 3 under par on the first day of the PGA Tour Honda Classic (total prize money of $8.4 million), which he won three years ago, and finished in a tie for sixth place, two strokes behind the leader.
In the first round of the tournament held at the PGA National Resort & Spa Champion Course (par 70, 7125 yards) in Palm Beach Gardens스포츠토토, Florida on the 24th (Korean time), Lim Seong-jae tied 4 birdies and 1 bogey to record 3 under par 67 strokes.
Im Seong-jae, who started the game with a birdie on the 1st hole, added a birdie on the par 5 3rd hole. After safely passing the highly difficult corner of the 3rd hole of ‘Gridlyden’ in the first half, reducing another stroke in the 8th hole, he lost a stroke in a three-putt in the 16th hole of the difficult corner ‘Bear Trap’ in the second half. But he birdied the last par 5 hole and moved into the top 10 on the leader board.
Im Seong-jae said in an interview the day before the tournament, “I gain confidence when I stand at the tee box here.” Following his first win on the tour three years ago, he tied for 8th in 2021, and on this highly challenging course, his sophisticated iron play shined.
There is a lot of water on the side of the fairway and the wind is strong, so the strategy of not losing each hole is effective, but Im Seong-jae this year also tried to keep the fairway and increase the green hit rate.
With some players unable to finish due to the sunset, Billy Horschel shot a 5-under-par 65 with 6 birdies and 1 bogey to tie for the lead with Joseph Bramlett (above USA) who narrowed down 5 birdies to no-bogie. .
Korean-American Justin Seo tied for third place with Pearson Cody (USA) with a 4 under par 66 strokes.
Kim Seong-hyeon (25) tied for 14th with Shane Lowry (Ireland) and others by grabbing two birdies and hitting a 2-under-par 68. Ahn Byung-hoon (32) hit even par and tied for 49th place, Noh Seung-yeol (32) tied for 83rd with a 2-over par and 72 strokes, and Kang Seong-hun (36) lost 3 strokes and remained in the bottom ranks.
JTBC Golf & Sports and JTBC Golf will broadcast the second round live at dawn on the weekend.