Scottsdale [US], February 12 (ANI): Korea’s Sungjae Im brilliantly birdied six of his opening eight holes on Friday to surge into rivalry on the USD 20 million WM Phoenix Open, the second spherical of which was suspended resulting from darkness.
The 24-year-old Im, chasing a 3rd PGA Tour win, chipped in for birdie from 63 ft on the par-4 tenth gap earlier than making 5 extra good points together with a 34-footer on the well-known par-3 sixteenth at TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium Course to take a seat on 6-under via 12 holes. Play was suspended resulting from darkness with your entire afternoon wave unable to compete of their second rounds.
Im’s 7-under whole left him in tied-fourth place and three photographs behind clubhouse chief and defending champion Scottie Scheffler, who fired an excellent 64 to succeed in the midway mark at 10-under 132. The world No. 2 holds a two-shot lead over in-form Spaniard Jon Rahm (66) and Adam Hadwin of Canada, who was 3-under with eight holes remaining.
McIlroy, at 3-under because of 13 holes of 5-under golf within the second spherical, was amongst these nonetheless out on the course.
Scheffler might return to No. 1 with a win offered McIlroy finishes worse than a solo third. There can also be a path to No. 1 with a runner-up for Scheffler, however Rahm must not win and McIlroy would want to complete worse than solo thirty sixth.
Last 12 months at TPC Scottsdale, Scheffler not solely broke via for his first profession PGA Tour victory, however he additionally sparked a scintillating run that included wins on the Arnold Palmer Invitational, WGC-Dell Match Play and Masters, in addition to his preliminary ascension to world No. 1, which McIlroy later grabbed from him after successful the CJ Cup final fall.
On the primary day, McIlroy received off to a really gradual begin as he shot 2-over 73 and was mendacity approach down as darkness stopped play early. The World No. 1 McIlroy has received his final two begins, the CJ Cup and the Hero Dubai Desert Classic and is taking a look at making it three in a row.
Im is seeking to return to successful methods after he final lifted the Shriners Children’s Open in October 2021. This season, he completed top-10 twice together with a T4 on the Farmers Insurance Open two weeks in the past and holds a greatest end of tied seventh in Phoenix in 2019.
Another Korean Tom Kim was one other spectacular performer of the day as he registered an excellent 66 to maneuver as much as T11 on 137. He was two over par via his first 4 holes on Thursday however has since produced some chic golf to maneuver up the leaderboard.
Yet one other Korean Si Woo Kim, who was victorious on the Sony Open in Hawaii final month, sits T38 on 141 following a 69 and was joined by Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama, a two-time winner at WM Phoenix Open, who was 4-under with 5 holes to complete on Saturday morning. (ANI)