*This content was translated by AI.
Im Sung-jae (28, CJ) succeeded in leaping into the lead pack during the second round of the FedEx Cup Playoffs (PO) Round 2 on the PGA Tour in the United States.
On the 22nd (Korean time), Im shot a 6-under-par 65 with seven birdies and one bogey at the 2026 PGA Tour FedEx Cup Playoffs Round 2 BMW Championship (total purse $20 million) held at Bellerive Country Club (par 71) in St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
Starting in a joint 12th place after the first round, Im posted a cumulative total of 9-under-par 131 strokes.
As a result, Im jumped eight spots to joint fourth place alongside Christopher Gotterup (USA). He trails Wyndham Clark (USA), who surged to sole lead with a cumulative total of 12-under-par 128 by reducing his score by six shots on two consecutive days, by just three strokes.
Im, who missed several events early this season due to the aftermath of a wrist injury, finished the regular season with difficulty at 53rd in the FedEx Cup rankings.
However, once he stepped onto the playoff stage, he has demonstrated formidable resilience.
Last week, during Round 1 of the PO FedEx St. Jude Championship, he recorded joint fifth place, climbing to 40th in the FedEx Cup rankings and securing a ticket for the second round, which is granted only to the top 50 players.
To qualify independently for the final event, the Tour Championship, where only the top 30 in the FedEx Cup standings can compete, Im must achieve a solo seventh place or joint sixth place or better in this tournament.
If he maintains his current ranking, Im will accomplish the feat of becoming the first Korean player to qualify for the Tour Championship for eight consecutive years in his career.
On this day, Im led with precise iron shots and secured his first birdie from the first hole (par 4). He reduced his score by one more stroke at the third hole (par 3). He then successfully made consecutive birdies at the seventh hole (par 4) and eighth hole (par 5), cutting four strokes in the front nine alone.
He maintained momentum into the back nine as well. He sank consecutive birdie putts at the 11th hole (par 4) and 13th hole (par 3). Although he recorded the only bogey of the day at the 14th hole (par 4), he remained unfazed. He immediately made up for it with a birdie on the following 15th hole (par 4), finishing the second round in high spirits.
The fortunes of fellow Korean players who competed alongside him were mixed.
Kim Si-woo, who secured joint runner-up in Round 1 of the PO and effectively confirmed his qualification for the final event by reaching fourth place in the FedEx Cup rankings, managed to reduce his score by only one stroke. He finished with a cumulative total of 1-under-par 139 strokes, placing him joint 34th.
In contrast, Kim Ju-hyung, who started at 26th in the FedEx Cup rankings, also reduced his score by one stroke but remained in joint 43rd place with a cumulative total of 1-over-par 141 strokes, making an urgent need for a rebound in the remaining rounds to qualify for the final event.
Meanwhile, Gary Woodland (USA) moved into sole second place, trailing sole leader Clark by one stroke with a score of 11-under-par 129. World No. 1 and FedEx Cup No. 1 Scottie Scheffler (USA) reduced his score by three strokes on this day, posting a cumulative total of 3-under-par 137 and climbing to joint 25th place.
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*This content was translated by AI.
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