Korea’s Im believes he can claim green jacket
AUGUSTA: Finishing joint runner-up in a dream Masters debut last November has fuelled Im Sung-Jae fire to one day don the famous green jacket.
The Korean rising star rose to the occasion at Augusta National during his first visit and briefly threatened eventual winner Dustin Johnson in the final round before settling for tied second place alongside Australian Cameron Smith.
Im, the highest ranked Asian golfer in the world rankings at No.19, got to within one stroke of Johnson before the powerful American shifted into fifth gear and raced to a five-shot victory.
“Last year at the fifth hole, I was just one behind Dustin which made me think at that point ‘I could really win today.’ Unfortunately, I finished runnerup but this was an incredible result for me in a major,” said the 23-year-old.
“With that performance, I think I’m certainly competitive enough to win major tournaments in the near future.”
Im enters the year’s first major in typically solid form. In nine stroke play events to date in 2021, he has two top10s, four top-25s and have not missed a single cut on tour.
He will no doubt ride on some good vibes from last year’s impressive showing, and with a little more experience behind his burgeoning golf career.
“I played very well last year, and I hope to play the same this week. I hope I can make another top-10 or get near the top this week. Augusta National’s greens are so fast and they have big slopes and I need to set my strategy right to be in the best positions. Course management will be important,” said Im who has one PGA Tour win.
Asia’s challenge will also be carried by Im’s countryman Kim Si-Woo, Japanese star Hideki Matsuyama and Taiwan’s CT Pan, who enjoyed a tied seventh finish in his debut here in November.
With a limited number of fans allowed on site to watch the year’s Masters, Kim hopes to savour in the atmosphere and launch a title challenge for the green jacket.
“I think it gives me added motivation and energy. I think it’s really good for me,” said Kim.
When Pan made his Masters debut in November, the 29-year-old made sure he enjoyed the full Augusta experience which included sampling all the famous sandwiches, marvelling at the magnificent sights around the venerable venue and most importantly, managing his own expectations.
The result was an impressive tiedseventh finish, and Pan now plans to keep to the same drill in the year’s first major.
“We had some wonderful fillet mignon steak for our dinner and I loved the pimento cheese sandwich and the egg sandwich. I think I tried all the sandwiches they had for us,” he said.
“I grew up watching [the Masters] with my late father and brother.
“It was an unbelievable experience being there on the first tee for the first time.
“Last year’s T7 was a big encouragement. I’ve set my objective for a top-20 for this year. I know there will be pressure.”