I want to compliment myself... 11 under par, 13th place → 4th place Lim Sung-jae tries to win the PGA opening match
Jan 05, 2025
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Lim Sung-jae recorded 11 under par with a brilliant play with one eagle and nine birdies without a bogey in the third round of the 2025 PGA Tour season opener The Sentry (total prize money of $20 million) at the Plantation Course (par 73, 7,596 yards) at the Kapalua Resort on Maui Island, Hawaii on the 5th (Korea time).
As a result, Lim Sung-jae ranked fourth with an interim total of 21 under par ahead of the final round on the 6th. Japan's Hideki Matsuyama (27 under par), who recorded 11 under par along with Lim Sung-jae, and second-place Colin Morikawa (26 under par) of the U.S., who also recorded 11 under par, are ranked first in the interim total. Third place is Belgium's Thomas Detry (22-under par), and Lim Sung-jae will compete for the championship in the final round with a six-shot difference from first place.
Lim Sung-jae, who recorded 4 under par in the first round and 6 under par in the second round, jumped from a joint 13th place the previous day to a solo 4th place with a steady upward curve of 11 under par in the third round.
Lim Sung-jae, who blocked holes 1 and 2 with par, started the game by recording birdies in succession in holes 3 (par 4) and 4 (par 4).
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He birdied two consecutive holes in the 10th hole (par 4), followed by a birdie in the 12th hole (par 4) and continued his thrilling four-game birdie streak from the 14th hole (par 4) to the 17th hole (par 4).
Lim Sung-jae challenged for a course record tie on the last 18th hole (par 5), but he swallowed his regret as a 4.1m birdie putt deflected the hole.
Lim Sung-jae, who has two PGA wins, will try to win the title for the first time in three years and three months since the Shriners Children's Open in October 2021. It also goes well with the course of this competition. Lim Sung-jae swept 34 birdies at the tournament last year, setting a new record for birdies in 72 holes on the PGA Tour since 1983.
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World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler of the U.S. was absent from the event, where a total of 59 players compete for four days without a cut.
The following is a question and answer session with Lim Sung-jae's PGA Tour, which finished the third round.
-How do you feel about today's round.
▶First of all, the weather was so nice today. In particular, there was almost no wind. Even if there was wind in every hole, it was less than one club. This is a course where all players can hit aggressively and make many birdie shots if the wind doesn't blow. I think all the players must have hit aggressively in the weather like today. I also hit aggressively considering that, but I think it was a perfect day for everything from drivers to iron shots, wedges and putts. Last year, I hit 10 birdies and 10 under par in the last round like this, but this year I think I'm in a good position with 11 under par in the third round.
-If I had to pick one or two best shots for today.
▶First of all, I think the putt that made an eagle on the par 5th and 5th holes was the best. I don't think there was a second best. Overall, I don't remember a particularly good shot because it was all good.
-I could have broken the course record today.
▶I didn't know. To be honest, I thought that anyone could hit 12 under par or higher in today's weather. I don't know which player will break the record, but I want to compliment myself first today because I'm so good.
-The record is good last year, and the record is good here this year. Do you think it goes well with the course.
▶Last year, I set a new birdie record by making 34 birdies in four days here. This week, rather than thinking about such a record, I've been doing well every round, so I'm planning to keep my composure and continue my steady play.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
