Lim Seong-jae (25), who earned the nickname ‘Strong Weapon’ by playing as the international team ace in the previous two Presidents Cups, was strong. The World Golf Championship (WGC) Dell Technologies Match Play (total prize money of 20 million dollars) won the first game of the group stage with an 8-hole car win.
On the 23rd (Korean time), Im Seong-jae won an 8-hole victory over Maverick McNealy (USA) in the first round of the 16th group group stage of the tournament held at Austin Country Club (par 71) in Austin, Texas, USA.
A total of 64 players participated in the WGC Dell Technologies Match Play, the only match play event on the PGA Tour. Each of the 4 players in each of the 16 groups competes against each other once and receives 1 point for a win and 0.5 points for a tie. The player with the most points advances to the Round of 16.
Im Seong-jae took the victory that day and took advantage of advancing to the round of 16. Im Seong-jae, who competed in this tournament in 2021 and last year, has never passed the group stage. His best ever result was a tie for 35th last year.
Im Seong-jae, who is ranked 18th in the men’s golf world rankings, received the 16th group top seed. McNealy, Tommy Fleetwood (England), and JT Poston토토사이트 (USA) were placed in a group and clashed with McNealy on the first day. Lim Seong-jae, who won his first victory in the 2nd hole, widened the gap terribly. From the 3rd to the 7th hole, all of them were decorated with victories, leading by a 6-hole car.
In the 8th hole, he committed a double bogey and gave up a hole, but he did not shake. Im Seong-jae won McNealy’s surrender by winning three consecutive holes from the 10th to the 12th hole. Lim Seong-jae, who confirmed the victory by 8 holes with 6 holes left, was able to play the second round of the group stage with a good mood, even stocking up on stamina.
Im Seong-jae said, “It is important to win the first game in match play. I am happy to win as planned.” “he said.
Depending on the results of this tournament, Lim Seong-jae is in a situation where he can exceed $20 million in prize money on the PGA Tour. Im Seong-jae, who has earned 19,768,512 dollars so far, will join the club with a career prize of 20 million dollars if he finishes 20th or higher in this tournament. There are only 82 players on the PGA Tour who have earned more than $20 million in career earnings. Among Korean players, Choi Gyeong-ju (53) is the only one.
The opponent for the second round of the group stage is Poston. If Lim Seong-jae wins the second game as well, he will be one step closer to advancing to the round of 16. Im Seong-jae said, “A player who hits straight and makes few mistakes is a postion player.”
Kim Joo-hyung (21) and Kim Si-woo (28) also tasted the joy of victory. Joo-hyung Kim, who belongs to Group 1, won by two holes over Alex Noren (Sweden). Kim Si-woo of the 8th group won by 4 holes against Chris Kirk (USA). Lee Gyeong-hun (32), who played the first round of the group stage with Brian Harman (USA), suffered a defeat by 3 holes and was put on a red light to advance to the round of 16.
As expected from match play, there were surprises. World No. 2 and seed 2 Jon Rahm (Spain) lost to 49th seed Rickie Fowler (USA) by two holes. 8th seed Viktor Hovlan (Norway) was stopped by 59th seed Matt Kucher (USA) by three holes. The seventh seed, Will Jaratoris (USA), also fell victim to the incident. Xalatoris was completely defeated by 56th seed Andrew Putnam (USA) by 4 holes.
World No. 1 Scotty Scheffler (USA) and Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) put their first steps well. Schaeffler overcame Davis Riley (USA) by one hole and started off happily toward her second consecutive victory. McIlroy, who entered this tournament with a new putter, won by 3 holes against Scott Stallings (USA), who clashed in the first round of the group stage.