Kim Ju-hyung exchanges a club with caddie David Bruker on the 18th green during the first round of the 2026 Wyndham Championship at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, North Carolina, on Friday. [AFP]
Kim Ju-hyung exchanges a club with caddie David Bruker on the 18th green during the first round of the 2026 Wyndham Championship at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, North Carolina, on Friday. [AFP]

Kim Ju-hyung got off to a strong start at the Wyndham Championship, the final event of the PGA Tour's regular season, which carries an $8.5 million purse.

Kim carded seven birdies and two bogeys for a 5-under-par 65 in the first round Friday at Sedgefield Country Club (par 70) in Greensboro, North Carolina.

With 12 players unable to complete their rounds due to sunset, Kim sits in a tie for 11th, four strokes behind leader Bo Hoag of the United States, who fired a 9-under 61.

Kim has already secured a playoff berth by climbing to 34th in the FedEx Cup standings on the strength of his Scottish Open victory last month, but his goal this week is to build a firm foundation for a run at the Tour Championship, the playoff finale.

His tee shots and iron play were not particularly sharp, but he made the most of his birdie opportunities. Kim missed six greens in regulation yet averaged just 1.46 putts per green hit, which proved the key to his low score.

He was somewhat inconsistent on the front nine, making four birdies and two bogeys, but steadied on the back nine with three birdies and no bogeys to close out the day.

Im Sung-jae, who has slipped to 57th in the FedEx Cup standings, shot a 3-under 67 to finish in a tie for 37th. Both Kim and Im need to accumulate points this week to advance through the second playoff event, the BMW Championship (top 50), and on to the Tour Championship (top 30).

Brooks Koepka of the United States, who returned to the PGA Tour this year after competing on LIV Golf, also shot a 3-under 67 to join Im in the tie for 37th. A five-time major champion, Koepka has fallen to 86th in the FedEx Cup standings and faces missing the playoffs altogether if he cannot post a strong result this week.


yjc@heraldcorp.com