Kim Seong-hyun 4-Under Par Excitement... "I Feel Good"

Charles Schwab Challenge 1R Tied 2nd by 1 Stroke
Hoffman Leads, Finau and Harman Tied 2nd
Kim Juhyung 21st, Im Sungjae 46th, Scheffler 79th

Second-year pro Kim Seong-hyun is on the march toward victory.

Kim Sung-hyun is reading the putt line on the 5th hole of the first round at the Charles Schwab Challenge. [Fort Worth, USA=AFP·Yonhap News]

On the 23rd (local time), at the Colonial Country Club (par 70, 7,289 yards) in Fort Worth, Texas, USA, Kim shot a 4-under 66 in the first round of the PGA Tour's Charles Schwab Challenge (total prize money $9.1 million), placing him in a tie for second place. Tony Finau, Brian Harman, and Davis Riley (all from the USA) are also in this group. Veteran Charlie Hoffman (USA) leads by one stroke at 5-under 65.

Kim Seong-hyun recorded one eagle and three birdies (with one bogey). Starting at the 10th hole (par 4), he made his first birdie at the 13th hole (par 3), then in the back nine, he energized the round with an eagle on the 1st hole (par 5) with a 2-on 1-putt and a birdie on the 2nd hole (par 4). Although he made a bogey due to a tee shot error on the 5th hole, he finished the round on a high note by birdieing the final 9th hole (also par 4). He is just one stroke behind the leader, in a position to contend for his first career win.

In a post-round interview, he said, "I'm happy to finish with a good score near the top today. I could have kept it bogey-free, so that's a bit disappointing," adding, "My condition wasn't great, but I finished well." He continued, "I only got to play the course once because I participated in the US Open qualifying on Monday this week," and commented, "Compared to last year, the course feels a bit firmer, but it doesn't seem longer. It seems similar to last year."

Korea's Kim Joo-hyung started solidly, tied for 21st place at 1-under 69. Im Sung-jae is tied for 46th at even par 70, while Kim Si-woo and Lee Kyung-hoon are tied for 63rd at 1-over 71. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler (USA), who was arrested last week for not complying with traffic control ahead of the second round of the major PGA Championship, struggled somewhat. He is tied for 79th at 2-over 72 and facing difficulties.