'Surprise Entry' Heo Inhoe 'Cut Off'... "The PGA Tour Wall Is High"

Sony Open Second Day After Passing Monday Qualifier, Tied 133rd at 4 Over Par "Need a Solid Hit"

Heo In-hoe is examining the putting line on the 4th hole during the second day of the Sony Open. Honolulu (Hawaii, USA) = Getty Images / Multibits

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] "Round 1: 1 over par, Round 2: 3 over par."

Heo In-hoe (34), a member of the Korean Professional Golfers' Association (KPGA) Korean Tour, felt the high wall of the U.S. Professional Golfers' Association (PGA) Tour. On the 16th (Korean time), at the second day of the Sony Open held at Waialae Golf Club in Honolulu, Hawaii (par 70, 7,044 yards), he was cut off, tied for 133rd place (4 over par, 144 strokes). It is interesting that he crossed over to Hawaii for preseason training and made a surprise appearance by finishing second in the Monday Qualifier.

Heo In-hoe has won three times: the 2008 Philos Open, the 2013 KYJ Tour Championship, and the 2015 Dongbu Fire Pro-Am Open. Especially at the Dongbu Fire Pro-Am Open, he drew more spotlight by winning as a soldier belonging to the Armed Forces Athletic Corps, which was established for the Mungyeong World Military Games at that time. He has been active back and forth between Korea and Japan, including winning the 2014 JGTO (Japan Golf Tour Organization) Doshin Golf Tournament.

This is Heo In-hoe's first appearance on the PGA Tour. On the first day, he made 5 birdies and 6 bogeys, finishing tied for 115th place, and on this day, he recorded 3 birdies, 4 bogeys, and 1 double bogey. His long drive of up to 346 yards stood out, but over the two days, his accuracy was low with a fairway hit rate of 39.29% and a green in regulation rate of 58.33%. His scrambling ability (33.3%), which is the skill to save par or better after missing the green, was also lacking. He was 8 strokes behind the cut line for advancing to the third round (4 under par).