Kim Juhyung Scores Five Birdies Only... Shows 'Swing Correction Effect'

Kim Juhyung Tied for 26th in Rocket Classic 1st Round
Potgieter and Roy Share Lead at 10-Under
Minwoo Lee in Third; An Byeonghun and Kim Siwoo Tied for 44th

Kim Juhyung made a steady start.

Kim Juhyung is teeing off at the 9th hole of the Rocket Classic Round 1. Detroit=AFP Yonhap News Photo

On June 26 (local time), at Detroit Golf Club (par 72, 7,370 yards) in Detroit, Michigan, during the first round of the PGA Tour Rocket Classic (total prize money $9.6 million), Kim delivered a flawless performance with five birdies and no bogeys. He finished tied for 26th place (5-under-par 67), the best among Korean players. Kim has three career PGA Tour victories. This season, while working on correcting his swing, his best result so far was a tie for 7th at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February.

Kevin Roy (USA) and Aldrich Potgieter (South Africa) both shot 10-under-par 62 to top the leaderboard. The 20-year-old Potgieter and 35-year-old Roy set a new course record. Potgieter was the player who, in January last year, won the PGA Korn Ferry (secondary) Tour at the record-young age of 19 years, 4 months, and 11 days. Roy debuted on the PGA Tour in 2023 after turning 30 and has recorded two top-10 finishes in 48 career tournaments.

Minwoo Lee (Australia), Mark Hubbard, and Max Greyserman (both USA) are in pursuit, tied for third at 9-under-par 63, just one shot behind. An Byeonghun and Kim Siwoo are tied for 44th place (4-under-par 68). An Byeonghun made an eagle at the par-4 13th hole, holing his second shot from 77 yards with a brilliant backspin. Defending champion Cam Davis (Australia) struggled, finishing tied for 149th at 2-over-par 74.