Lim Seong-jae (25, CJ Logistics) won the first day of the World Golf Championship (WGC) Dell Technologies Match Play (total prize money of 20 million dollars).
Lim Seong-jae defeated Maverick McNealy (USA) by 8 holes in the first game of the group stage of the tournament held at Austin CC (par 71) in Austin, Texas, USA on the 23rd (Korean time). The record for winning by most holes in this tournament is 9 holes left by Tiger Woods (USA) in 2006.
In this tournament, 4 players compete against each other once, and 1 point is awarded for a win and 0.5 points for a tie. In the group stage where the player with the highest points advances to the round of 16, Lim Seong-jae had an advantage.
Lim Seong-jae, who received McNealy’s surrender with a birdie on the 12th hole (par 4) leaving hole 6, said, “McNealy didn’t work out. So I was able to win (easily). I think it’s fortunate that today ended quickly and I was able to save a lot of stamina,” he said. “It is important to win the first game (in match play competitions). Even if you win 2, there are cases where you can’t go up (to the round of 16). I will do my best until the end.”
Lim Seong-jae faces JJ Poston (USA) in the second match of the group stage on the 24th and challenges for a second consecutive win.
Kim Joo-hyung (21, Nike) also beat Alex Noren (Sweden) with a difference of two holes. Kim Joo-hyung took the lead by one hole with a birdie on the 13th hole (par 4), then ran away with a two-hole difference with a birdie on the 15th hole (par 4). And the 17th hole (par 3) was tied to decide the victory.
Kim Joo-hyung said, “The game had many ups and downs. It wasn’t easy. Noren fought well,” he said. “The experience at the Presidents Cup last year was helpful.”
Kim Si-woo (28, CJ Logistics) turned on the green light to advance to the round of 16 following the 2018 tournament by beating Chris Kirk (USA), the winner of the Honda Classic, by a 4-hole margin.
Kim Si-woo said, “I tried to focus only on my game and it worked. Winning the first game is important. When you lose your first game, you lose your confidence and focus. I am energized by winning today,” he said.
Among the four Korean players who participated, only Lee Gyeong-hun (32, CJ Logistics) lost in the first game. Lee Gyeong-hoon was defeated by Brian Harman (USA) in three holes.
The defending champion, world number one Scotty Scheffler (USA), won against Davis Riley (USA) after a struggle going all the way to the final 18th hole (par 4).
Schaeffler said, “I didn’t play very well, but I got lucky and got off to a good start.”
Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland), who replaced the driver and putter, beat Scott Stirlings (USA) by three holes. McIlroy, who changed equipment in preparation for the Masters, said, “Both the driver and putter are good. I like it,” he said.
World No. 2 Jon Ram (Spain) became the victim of the biggest surprise in the event. He received the 49th seed and lost by two holes to Rickie Fowler (USA), who participated in the tournament seven years after the 2016 tournament.
8th seed Viktor Hovlan (Norway) lost to 59th seed Matt Kucher (USA) by three holes. Among the 64 players who participated in this tournament, 메이저사이트 44-year-old Kucher, the oldest, tied with Woods’ record for most wins (36 wins) by one win.
7th seed Will Jaratoris (USA) was defeated by 56th seed Andrew Putnam (USA) by 4 holes. 41st seed Lee Min-woo (Australia) also defeated 26th seed Sais Sigala (USA) by one hole.