'Oldest Brother' Lee Kyung-hoon Maintains Top 10 in PGA Playoffs

FedEx Cup Round 1 St. Jude Championship 2R Tied 9th
Round 1 Leader Kim Si-woo Tied 27th, Kim Joo-hyung Tied 33rd, Im Sung-jae Tied 60th
'Number 1' Scheffler and 'PO Specialist' McIlroy 'Cut Off'

Lee Kyung-hoon is teeing off on the 7th hole on the second day of the St. Jude Championship. Memphis, USA=Photo by Getty Images/Multibits

[Asia Economy Reporter Hee-jun Jang] Lee Kyung-hoon (31) maintained a 'Top 10' position in the first round of the PGA Tour Playoffs (PO).

On the 12th (local time), Lee Kyung-hoon shot 1-under 69 with 4 birdies and 3 bogeys in the second round of the FedEx Cup PO first round, the FedEx St. Jude Championship (total prize money $15 million), held at Southwind TPC (par 70, 7,243 yards) near Memphis, Tennessee, USA.

With a total score of 7-under 133, Lee Kyung-hoon ranked tied for 9th, 4 strokes behind the leader. He shares the same position as Adam Scott (Australia) and Emiliano Grillo (Argentina).

Lee Kyung-hoon started strong by making a birdie putt on the 3rd hole (par 5), but lost one stroke in the front nine with bogeys on the 5th and 9th holes (both par 4). In the back nine, he gained momentum by sinking a 9.5-meter birdie putt on the 13th hole (par 4) and reduced another stroke on the 16th hole (par 5), finishing the round at 1-under.

Kim Si-woo (27), who led the leaderboard with an 8-under on the first day, dropped to tied 27th (5-under 135) after making 3 bogeys in the second round.

Kim Joo-hyung (20), who qualified for the PO by winning the last regular season tournament, the Wyndham Championship, exchanged 3 birdies and 3 bogeys to finish even par. He is tied for 33rd (4-under 136). Im Sung-jae (24) barely advanced to the third round, tied for 60th (2-under 138).

J.J. Spaun (USA), who shared the lead with Kim Si-woo after the first round, added 3-under to maintain the top of the leaderboard (11-under 129).

Cameron Smith (Australia), who has been surrounded by LIV Golf transfer rumors, improved his position from tied 30th the previous day to tied 5th (8-under 132) by shooting 5-under. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler (USA) and PO specialist Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland), who played alongside Smith, missed the cut.