'Challenge for Rehabilitation' Im Sung-jae: "There Was Psychological Pressure, But Current Form Is Not Bad"

*This content was translated by AI.

Im Sung-jae (28, CJ), who struggled with a wrist injury, is set to regain his lost dignity. He is determined to launch a spectacular comeback at the tournament where he has previously lifted the championship trophy twice.

At the official press conference for the 2026 KPGA Tour Our Financial Championship (total prize money: 1.5 billion won) held on the 22nd at Seowon Valley CC in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, Im Sung-jae said, "I have participated in this tournament for four consecutive years. Having won it twice, it holds many positive memories for me personally. Although I narrowly missed the cut last year, I will do my best this year to show fans an even better performance."

Im Sung-jae has a deep connection with this tournament. After winning in 2023 with a total score of 10-under par 278, he achieved back-to-back titles in 2024 with 11-under par 277, firmly establishing himself as a top contender. However, he suffered a setback last year when he failed to make the cut, which damaged his pride.

His early-year momentum was also not smooth. A right wrist injury sidelined him entirely for the January and February tournaments. Even after returning last month, he missed the cut consecutively at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and The Players Championship, raising concerns. Fortunately, he secured a joint fourth place at the Valspar Championship, laying the groundwork for a rebound.

Regarding the impact of his injury, Im Sung-jae stated, "I had to rest for about two months and missed out on accumulating FedExCup points, which created psychological pressure. However, my current form is not bad. There are no aspects of my swing that are not performing as expected, so I remain optimistic."

Im Sung-jae, who has been active on the PGA Tour, identified adapting to Korean grass as the key to success in this tournament. He explained, "Unlike the short and tight grass in the U.S., Korean grass often keeps the ball airborne, requiring different adjustments for distance and spin control. Nevertheless, I expect good results because the bentgrass greens in Korea tend to roll well along the intended putting line."

He further added, "The passionate support from fans, which I don't feel on the PGA Tour, is a great source of strength. Rather than focusing solely on winning, I will concentrate on entertaining the fans who visit the course every day. I believe good results will follow."

Defending champion Lee Tae-hoon (36, Our Financial Group) said, "I will draw on my positive memory of making long putts last year and challenge to defend the title. As this is my first appearance representing Our Financial Group, I want to perform even better." Lee Jeong-hwan (35, Our Financial Group), who is also aiming to win the main sponsor tournament, added, "While competing on overseas tours, I once again realized the importance of precision. This year, I will definitely aim for victory."

The 2026 Our Financial Championship, with a total prize pool of 1.5 billion won, will be held over four days starting from the 23rd at Seowon Valley CC. Top golfers including Im Sung-jae, Lee Tae-hoon, Lee Jeong-hwan, Jo Woo-young, and Hwang Jung-kon will compete for the championship trophy.

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*This content was translated by AI.