Yuma Sun

Kim shoots 62 for 2-shot lead after 3 rounds at Wyndham

-

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Si Woo Kim thinks he’s playing like he did four years ago when he earned his first PGA Tour victory at the Wyndham Championsh­ip.

That could be a really bad omen for those chasing Kim in Sunday’s final round.

Kim had a hole-inone on the way to 62 and a two-shot lead over Doc Redman and Rob Oppenheim after three rounds of the PGA Tour’s final event before the playoffs.

Kim got going with his ace on the 161-yard third hole and didn’t let up – much like he felt here in 2016.

Every drive that year hit the fairway. Each approach shot was tight to the pin. And any putt rattled the bottom of the cup, he recalled.

“I feel like pretty similar this year,” Kim said.

There’s a critical difference that could make Kim even harder to beat, he believes – he knows how to finish as a champion.

“This time, I already win two times, so that’s the good experience for me,” he said.

Kim, who’s at 18-under after 54 holes, made history three years ago when at 21 he became the youngest winner of The Players Championsh­ip. Now, he’s seeking his first victory since – and playing strongly wherever he tees it up.

Kim has broken 70 in nine of his last 10 rounds, including all four at TPC Harding Park to finish tied for 13th at the PGA Championsh­ip. He has continued that stellar play at Sedgefield Country Club, where he won his first PGA Tour event in 2016.

Redman had a 63, while Oppenheim set a career low on tour with a 62 in second at 16-under.

Billy Horschel shot a 65 and was three strokes back at 15-under. Mark Hubbard (64) and Jim Herman were another stroke back at 14-under. Herman shot a 61, a career best and tied for lowest round of the tournament.

But it was Kim’s sizzling play that stood out in this one. He almost had a second ace when he clipped the cup on the par-3 12th hole and settled 14 inches away for another birdie.

Kim kept it up with birdies on the 15th, 16th and 17th holes to take the lead.

Oppenheim was bidding for a 60 when he birdied the next-to-last hole to move to 17-under. But his only bogey of the round on the final hole dropped him back.

The 40-year-old Oppenheim has put himself in

SEE GOLF/C6

 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States