S. Korean PGA Tour rookie determined to improve short game

By Yoo Jee-ho

SEOGWIPO, South Korea, Oct. 21 (Yonhap) -- If there's one thing that South Korean PGA Tour rookie Im Sung-jae learned in his latest event, it's that he has to improve his play around the green.

Im played at the CJ Cup @ Nine Bridges here on Jeju Island for his second career PGA Tour start. Im earned his ticket to the top competition by winning the money title on the second-tier Web.com Tour last season.

Im impressed from the get-go, finishing one shot out of the playoff in his debut at the Safeway Open earlier this month. Then at the CJ Cup, Im tied for 41st at three-under 284, with rounds of 73-71-71-69.

Back on an island where he grew up, Im received a star treatment, as he was paired with the two highest-ranked players in the field, No. 3 Brooks Koepka and No. 4 Justin Thomas, in the first two rounds.

Koepka went on to win the tournament at 21-under, and he'll climb to No. 1 in the rankings.

"I learned so much just by playing with those two players," Im said after his final round. "But I think I'll have to practice my short game even more. I need to get better at scrambling and saving pars."

Im said his iron play wasn't up to par for all four rounds, and he failed to give himself as many birdie opportunities as he would have liked.

Im said he'd like to qualify for the season-ending Tour Championship and pick up a win during his rookie season. He's planning to play every tournament left in the calendar year 2018, and compete at about 30 tournaments in total during the 2018-2019 season.

jeeho@yna.co.kr
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