Sungjae Im
Instagram: @sungjaeim330
Things to Know
- His parents (Ji Taek Im and Mi Kim) have followed him to every tournament on the Korn Ferry Tour and PGA TOUR in the 2018 and 2019 season.
- Does not have a permanent place of residence and has been living a nomadic lifestyle, moving from hotel to hotel, since 2018. He's still looking to buy a house in the Atlanta area.
- Currently resides in Jeju, South Korea—host site of THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES
- First came to the United States in 2017 to compete in the second stage of Korn Ferry Tour Q-School.
- Went to Korean National Sport University.
- Would either have to medal in an Olympic Games or win a gold medal in the Asian Games to avoid military service in South Korea.
- Played 25 of the 27 Korn Ferry Tour events in 2018 and made 35 starts on TOUR in his rookie season (most of any player in the 2018-19 Season). Skipped only two events where he was qualified to play (2019 Puerto Rico Open and 2019 Barracuda Championship).
- Became the only rookie to reach the 2019 TOUR Championship, among 23 in the 2018-19 season.
- He and Stewart Cink (1996-97) as the only players to be named the Korn Ferry Tour Player of the Year and PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year in consecutive seasons.
- His 2019-20 season goals are to make it to the TOUR Championship and earn his maiden TOUR win.
- Led the PGA TOUR in Total Eagles (18), Birdies (480) and Par 5 Performance (-187) during the 2018-19 Season.
- Best PGA TOUR finish is runner-up at the recent Sanderson Farms Championship, where he lost a playoff to Sebastian Munoz.
- Was the only rookie to qualify for this year's TOUR Championship.
Presidents Cup Notes
First Appearance
- One of two players from Korea represented on the 2019 International Team (Byeong Hun An)
- Finished 11th in the final International Team standings
- Continued his strong form into the early stages of the 2019-20 PGA TOUR Season, collecting top-5 finishes at the Sanderson Farms Championship (2nd) and the ZOZO Championship (T3) to further convince Els that he deserved a captain’s pick.
- One of five players in Presidents Cup history to compete before turning 22 years old, joining Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa (2009, 2011), Jordan Spieth (2013), Hideki Matsuyama (2013) and Joaquín Niemann (2019).
Past Match Play/Team Performances
Zurich Classic of New Orleans (Four-Ball-Foursomes)
- 2019 – Finished T37 with partner Whee Kim (64-72-73-73)
December 06, 2019
