Im Sung-jae is tied for third place after the weather-interrupted opening round of the second leg of the PGA Tour playoffs in Colorado.

Im carded a four-under 68 to begin the BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club, just outside Denver, on Thursday (local time), and play was suspended after the South Korean had finished his round due to lightning in the area.

The round resumed after a little more than three hours of delay, and eight players who hadn’t completed their round were able to do so.

In this Getty Images photo, Im Sung-jae of South Korea tees off on the second hole during the first round of the BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock, Colorado, on Aug. 22, 2024. (Yonhap)

Im is one of three South Koreans to have qualified for the BMW Championship, by virtue of being inside the top 50 in the FedEx Cup points rankings following last week’s playoff opener, the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis.

Those inside the top 30 after the BMW Championship will advance to the playoff
finale next week, the Tour Championship in Atlanta. Im was at No. 10 entering this week.

Im is trying to make it to his sixth consecutive Tour Championship. His five straight appearances so far are a record for a South Korean player in the current playoff format, which dates to 2007.

Im is tied with three other players after collecting six birdies against two bogeys. Im started his day with three consecutive birdies.

In this Getty Images photo, Kim Si-woo of South Korea tees off on the second hole during the first round of the BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock, Colorado, on Aug. 22, 2024. (Yonhap)

The par-72 course played at 8.074 yards, but with an average altitude of 6,200 feet above sea level allowing balls to fly farther, it played much shorter than the number.

“It was difficult to get the right yardage because of elevation, and with the wind blowing a bit, the back nine was tough to play,” Im said. “Fortunately, I got off to a great start and was able to maintain a solid scor
e through the end.”

He is two shots behind the leader Keegan Bradley. The American veteran squeezed into this tournament at No. 50 in the FedEx Cup rankings.

Another South Korean player, Kim Si-woo, shot a three-under with seven birdies and four bogeys to tie for seventh on Thursday. He began this week ranked 44th in FedEx Cup points, and must finish alone in 17th place at least in order to have a chance to crack the top 30. Kim has played at the 2016 and 2023 Tour Championships.

Kim, who teed off in the day’s first group, said he found the greens to be in ideal conditions.

“I was able to send my shots the way I wanted to and pick up a lot of birdies,” Kim said. “If I can keep playing with confidence and making putts like I did today, I should have a chance for a good finish at the end.”

Kim nearly had a hole-in-one on the par-3 16th, where he could have won a new BMW vehicle as a prize for an ace.

“The distance was between my 5-iron and a 6-iron. Knowing the elevation and altitude here, I played the 6-
iron, and I had the right amount of carry,” Kim said.

He then added with a smile: “Unfortunately, I didn’t get the car this time. But we have three more days to go. I was happy with the birdie there.”

An Byeong-hun, 15th in FedEx Cup points at the start of the week, shot an even 72 in the first round to tie for 22nd. He is trying to qualify for the Tour Championship for the first time.

Source: Yonhap News Agency