Charlotte: South Korean Kim Si-woo has made the longest hole-in-one in major championship history to put himself in contention at the PGA Championship in North Carolina.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim finds himself two strokes off the lead in a three-way tie for second place after 36 holes at six-under par at the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte. Jhonattan Vegas of Venezuela leads the way at eight-under.
Kim's round of 64 at the par-71 course included an ace with a 5-wood at the 252-yard, par-3 sixth hole. It was the longest ace ever at a major championship. This was Kim's second hole-in-one at a major. His first had also been a historic one. At the 2024 Open Championship, he made the longest ace in that tournament's history on the 238-yard, par-3 17th at Royal Troon.
Kim expressed his excitement about the record-setting hole-in-one, stating, "I hit it exactly how I wanted. So it was cool and it was a pretty memorable hole-in-one at a major." Beginning his day on the back nine, Kim also had six birdies and a bogey to match Max Homa for the low round of the day.
Kim shot one-over 72 in the opening round and needed a strong second round to ensure his place for the weekend, with the cut line set at one-over. Now, the 29-year-old is in the mix for his first major title. Kim remains focused, acknowledging the challenges ahead, "It's just still Friday. I just played good two rounds, but still a lot of work to do. Then especially, the weekend is going to be hotter and then more tense. I'm just going to try to play my golf and just try to have fun."
Kim is one of four South Koreans participating this week. An Byeong-hun shot 73 with one birdie and three bogeys, placing him in a tie for 48th at even-par for the tournament. Tom Kim made the cut on the number at one-over after shooting 72 in the second round with two birdies, one bogey, and one double bogey, tying for 62nd at one-over for the tournament. Im Sung-jae, the top South Korean in the world rankings at No. 18, missed the cut at five-over after posting 74 in the second round with two birdies, three bogeys, and one double bogey.