Siwoo Kim "Starts at 1 Under Par"... Iwata Surprises with 7 Under Par Lead

PGA Tour 2021/2022 Season Round 5 Day 1 in Japan: Matsuyama Tied 2nd, Tokyo Olympic Gold Medalist Schauffele Struggles at Even Par

Siwoo Kim is tied for 21st place at 1-under par on the first day of the Zozo Championship.

[Asia Economy Golf Specialist Reporter Kim Hyun-jun] Kim Si-woo (26, CJ Logistics) is challenging for his first win of the 2021/2022 PGA Tour season in Japan.

On the first day of the Zozo Championship (total prize money $9.95 million), held on the 21st at Accordia Golf Narashino Golf Club in Chiba Prefecture, Japan (par 70, 7,041 yards), he stood tied for 21st place at 1-under par. Hiroshi Iwata leads unexpectedly at 7-under par, with Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama (both from Japan) and Joaquin Niemann (Chile) tied for second place at 6-under par 64, just one stroke behind. Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Xander Schauffele (USA) is tied for 29th at even par, and world No. 3 Collin Morikawa (USA) finished warming up tied for 42nd at 1-over par.

Kim Si-woo recorded three birdies and two bogeys. Although he started shakily with a bogey on the 2nd hole (par 4), he made 'stepping stone birdies' on the 7th and 9th holes, and after a bogey on the 11th hole (par 4) in the back nine, he recovered with a birdie on the final 18th hole (par 5). He secured his third career win after a long gap of 3 years and 8 months since May 2017’s 'The Players Championship,' known as the 'fifth major,' by winning the American Express in January. He is also on the rise this new season, including a tie for 8th at the Sanderson Farms Championship.

This tournament is especially notable as the stage where the 'Golf Emperor' Tiger Woods (USA) became the inaugural champion in 2019. It also drew more spotlight as Woods tied Sam Snead’s PGA Tour record for most wins (82 career victories). Last year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was held in the United States, but it has returned to Japan this year. It is interesting that Matsuyama, who finished second then, is seeking revenge. In April, he became the first Asian player to win the Masters, rising to the status of a global star.

‘Tokyo Olympic Gold’ Xander Schauffele is teeing off on the 18th hole on the first day of the Zozo Championship. Japan=Getty Images/Multibits

The leaders include Matt Wallace (England) in 4th place at 5-under par 65, Brendan Steele (USA) in 5th at 4-under par 66, and Tommy Fleetwood (England) tied for 6th at 3-under par 67. Schauffele’s poor performance is surprising. Having won the gold medal in men’s golf at the Tokyo Olympics in August, he was initially considered the top favorite to win. However, on this day, he exchanged four birdies for four bogeys, ending up stagnant. Korea’s Lee Kyoung-hoon (30) joined this group, while Kang Sung-hoon (34) fell back to a tie for 68th at 4-over par.