Valspar Championship Day 2: Burns Joins Co-Leaders, World No.1 Johnson Slips to Tied 33rd
Im Sung-jae (right) is walking on the fairway on the second day of the Valspar Championship. Palm Harbor, Florida, USA = Getty Images / Multibits
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist] ‘Tied for 6th place, 5 strokes behind’.
It is the rising momentum of Im Sung-jae (23, CJ Logistics). On the 1st (Korean time), at the Innisbrook Golf Club in Palm Harbor, Florida, USA (par 71, 7,340 yards), during the second day of the PGA Tour Valspar Championship (total prize money $6.9 million), he climbed to a tie for 6th place (7-under 135) by showing steady 4-under-par play. Keegan Bradley led for the second day (12-under 130), and Sam Burns (both from the USA) surged to 8-under par, joining the co-lead in one fell swoop.
Im Sung-jae started from a tie for 14th place and quickly opened the scoring with consecutive birdies on holes 10 and 11, then added birdies on the 15th hole (par 3), the 1st hole of the back nine (par 5), and the 6th hole (par 4), creating momentum. He proudly recorded pars on the crucial 16th to 18th holes known as the ‘Snake Pit’. The bogey on the final 9th hole (par 4) was rather disappointing. His tee shot landed in the left fairway bunker, and his second shot flew into the greenside bunker, resulting in a ‘3-on 2-putt’.
Keegan Bradley is teeing off on the 6th hole on the second day of the Valspar Championship. Palm Harbor, Florida, USA ? Photo by Getty Images/Multivitz
Bradley is eyeing his first victory in 2 years and 7 months since the BMW Championship ‘Playoff (PO) Round 3’ in September 2018. He is the protagonist who set a rare record by winning his ‘major debut’ after a three-hole playoff against Jason Dufner (USA) on the final day of the PGA Championship in August 2011. He comes from a professional golfer family, being the son of Pat Bradley, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame with 31 LPGA Tour wins. His father, Mark Bradley, also served as the head pro at a golf club in Jackson, Wyoming.
The leading group consists of three players tied for 3rd place (8-under 134), including ‘Genesis Invitational Champion’ Max Homa. World No. 1 Dustin Johnson (both from the USA) is tied for 33rd place (3-under 139), along with Paul Casey (England). From Korea, Lee Kyung-hoon (30) is tied for 24th place (4-under 138), and An Byeong-hun (30, both CJ Logistics) is tied for 54th place (1-under 141), looking for opportunities. ‘Tank’ Choi Kyung-ju (51, SK Telecom) and Kang Sung-hoon (34) were cut off.
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