Kim Ju-hyung hands his putter to his caddie after completing his round. [AFP]
Kim Ju-hyung hands his putter to his caddie after completing his round. [AFP]

Kim Ju-hyung finished tied for fifth at the Wyndham Championship, the final event of the PGA Tour's regular season.

Playing Monday at Sedgefield Country Club (par 70) in Greensboro, North Carolina, Kim carded three birdies against a bogey and a double bogey to shoot even-par 70 in the final round. His 72-hole total of 15-under-par 265 placed him in a tie for fifth alongside Harry Hall of England.

Kim entered the final round one stroke off the lead and kept himself in contention with birdies at the par-3 third and par-4 sixth holes on the front nine. His momentum stalled on the back nine when consecutive wayward shots at the par-4 11th found the rough and led to a double bogey. He recovered a bogey at the 14th with a birdie at the 15th but could not add any further birdies down the stretch.

Although Kim fell short of a come-from-behind victory, the result marked his third top-five finish of the season — joining his Genesis Scottish Open title last month — and lifted his FedEx Cup ranking eight spots from 34th to 26th. The improved standing puts him in a strong position heading into the FedEx Cup Playoffs and raises his chances of qualifying for the Tour Championship, the playoff finale.

The FedEx Cup Playoffs proceed in stages based on regular-season rankings. The top 70 players compete in the first event, the FedEx St. Jude Championship; the top 50 advance to the second, the BMW Championship; and only the top 30 earn a spot in the Tour Championship.

Im Sung-jae closed with a 4-under-par 66, highlighted by three consecutive birdies at holes three through five, to finish at 12-under 268 and tie for 14th. Im moved up four spots to 53rd in the FedEx Cup rankings, securing his place in the first round of the playoffs.

Michael Brennan of the United States claimed the title, firing a 6-under 64 for a 72-hole total of 22-under 258 — a three-stroke victory over compatriot Bo Hoag in second place. The win was Brennan's second on tour and vaulted him from 105th to 47th in the FedEx Cup rankings, punching his ticket to the playoffs.


sports@heraldcorp.com