Korea’s Sungjae Im will lead a five-man Asian contingent advancing into the BMW Championship on Thursday as young compatriot Joohyung “Tom” Kim put himself in the frame to qualify for the TOUR Championship following a thrilling conclusion at the FedEx St. Jude Championship on Sunday.
Im, 24, entered the final round at TPC Southwind in Memphis four strokes off the lead and a closing 1-under 69 saw him settle for solo 12th on 10-under 270, five back of winner Will Zalatoris.
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The result marked Im’s 14th top-25 finish of the PGA TOUR 2021-22 season, which includes one victory, and he dropped one rung to 11th position on the latest FedExCup Playoffs and Eligibility Points List.
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Kim’s whirlwind past few weeks, which saw him win the Wyndham Championship, continued as he posted a creditable tied 13th after a final round 69. It pushed him up from 34th to 25th on the latest FedExCup standings. The top-30 after the BMW Championship will qualify for the TOUR Championship where the new FedExCup winner will be crowned and earn US$18 million.
Other Asians amongst the top-70 advancing into week two of the PGA TOUR’s post-season include Korea’s K.H. Lee, who shared 20th position in Memphis which pushed him up to 33rd place in the latest rankings. Lee is seeking a first appearance in the TOUR Championship after missing out by one rung last season.
A fourth Korean, Si Woo Kim, will enter the BMW Championship in 43rd place after settling for a T52 finish at the FedEx St. Jude Championship. He was the first round leader with a 62.
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Despite pulling out from FedEx St. Jude Championship due to a neck injury, eight-time TOUR winner, Hideki Matsuyama rounds up the Asian challenge at the BMW Championship at Wilmington Country Club. Ranked 15th on the FedExCup list, he is seeking a ninth successive appearance at the TOUR Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta.
Anirban Lahiri, who missed the halfway cut in Memphis, agonisingly missed out on a place at the BMW Championship after finding himself ranked 71st. C.T. Pan of Chinese Taipei, who also missed the cut, concluded his campaign in 99th position.
