'A regrettable first for a Korean player': Kim Si-woo finishes runner-up at CJ Cup after a tight contest... '11-under par in a day' Clark's stunning comeback

*This content was translated by AI.

It was a disappointing runner-up finish. Kim Si-woo (31) failed to hold off the competition for the solo lead, missing out on becoming the first Korean player to win the CJ Cup.

On the 25th (Korea time), Kim Si-woo shot a final-round 6-under-par 65 with seven birdies and one bogey at TPC Craig Ranch, a par-71 course in McKinney, Texas, USA, for the final round of the PGA Tour's CJ Cup Byron Nelson (total purse: $10.3 million).

Finishing with a total of 27-under-par 257, Kim Si-woo surrendered the victory to Wyndham Clark of the United States and settled for a runner-up finish by three strokes.

Entering the final round as the solo leader, two strokes ahead of the joint second-place group after three rounds, Kim Si-woo aimed for his fifth career victory, his first since the Sony Open in January 2023, but could not withstand Clark's fierce pursuit. Consequently, the record for the first Korean winner of the CJ Cup, established when the tournament was founded in 2017, will have to wait for another opportunity.

Although he suffered a comeback defeat, there were gains. Following his runner-up finish at the Farmers Insurance Open in February, Kim Si-woo recorded his second second-place finish of the season and set a new personal record for the fewest total strokes over 72 holes since joining the PGA Tour, shaving two strokes off the previous mark of 21-under-par 259 set during his 2016 Wyndham Championship victory.

The start was smooth. Kim Si-woo made his first birdie on the 2nd hole, a par-4, and then secured three consecutive birdies from the 5th hole, a par-5, through the 7th hole, a par-3, raising his chances of victory. However, after committing his first bogey on the 8th hole, a par-4, and slowing down, Clark closed the gap to within one stroke by the 6th hole, reducing his deficit by four strokes.

The battle continued into the back nine. Kim Si-woo attempted to pull away with consecutive birdies on the 11th hole, a par-4, and the 12th hole, a par-5, but Clark responded with a birdie on the 11th and an eagle on the 12th to tie the score and move into a joint lead. The two players then maintained a tight balance by recording a par on the 13th hole and a birdie on the 14th hole.

The turning point came on the 15th hole, a par-3. Clark sank a long-distance birdie putt from approximately 13.7 meters, while Kim Si-woo could only manage a par, handing over the lead. Riding the momentum, Clark added consecutive birdies on the 17th hole, a par-3, and the 18th hole, a par-4, to seal the victory. Kim Si-woo remained at par on both the 17th and 18th holes, unable to overturn the result.

Clark, who completed the comeback with an 11-under-par final round, added to his career tally with his fourth victory, his first since winning the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February 2024, a span of two years and three months. Clark, who secured his first win of the season, took home the winning prize of $1.854 million (approximately 2.8 billion won).

Meanwhile, Lim Sung-jae shot a 2-under-par 69 in the final round to finish with a total of 19-under-par 265, tying for 9th place. This marks his third top-10 finish of the season, following a joint 4th place at the Valspar Championship and a joint 5th place at the Truist Championship.

Noh Seung-yeol, making his PGA Tour debut this season, performed well to finish 18th with a total of 16-under-par 268. Kim Ju-hyeong finished in a tie for 54th with a total of 10-under-par 274, while Bae Yong-jun ended in a tie for 62nd with a total of 8-under-par 276.

Meanwhile, the defending champion and world No. 1, Scottie Scheffler of the United States, finished the tournament in solo 3rd place with a total of 25-under-par 259 after shooting six strokes under par in the final round.

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*This content was translated by AI.