Augusta: Three South Korean PGA Tour players will each be in pursuit of their first career major title when they tee off at the Masters this week. At No. 25, two-time tour winner Im Sung-jae is the highest-ranked player of the trio that will play at the iconic Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, about a two-hour drive east of Atlanta. Im is followed by Tom Kim (No. 33) and An Byeong-hun (No. 35). Kim has three PGA Tour titles, and An has yet to win on the top men’s circuit.

According to Yonhap News Agency, no South Korean has donned the famed green jacket, presented to the Masters champion each year, and Im owns the record for the best performance by a South Korean player, with his runner-up finish in his Masters debut in 2020. Im, usually a model of consistency, has been struggling to find his form after recording two top-five finishes in his first three tournaments of the year. In seven starts since, Im has missed two cuts and has not had a top-10 showing.

He has also experienced fluctuating performan
ces in majors since 2023, with three top-20 finishes alongside five missed cuts. Kim has encountered similar challenges, with one top-10 finish in nine starts and three missed cuts. He ended 2024 ranked No. 21 but has dropped twelve spots.

Kim has been inside the top 30 in seven of his past 10 major starts, including his two recent Masters appearances. An has also missed three cuts out of his nine tournaments, with one top-10 finish. He will be playing at his sixth Masters but only his third since 2017. He tied for 16th to lead all South Korean players in 2024, two strokes out of the top 10.

Due to their recent form, none of these three players will be considered a favorite this week. However, Im expressed to Yonhap News Agency over the weekend that he feels optimistic about his chances, believing he can have a strong tournament if he can execute the shots he wants to hit at Augusta.