Im Sung-jae tees off on the ninth hole during the third round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship on Sunday. [Lee Imjin Image]
Im Sung-jae tees off on the ninth hole during the third round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship on Sunday. [Lee Imjin Image]

Im Sung-jae sits two strokes behind leader Scottie Scheffler after the third round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship, the first event of the PGA Tour's 2026 season playoffs, which carries a $20 million purse.

Im carded five birdies and two bogeys for a 3-under-par 67 on Sunday at TPC Southwind (par 70) in Memphis, Tennessee.

His three-round total of 11-under-par 199 placed him in a tie for second alongside Sam Burns of the United States. Scheffler shot a 2-under 68 on Sunday to reach 13-under 197. Im will chase a come-from-behind victory in Monday's final round.

Im opened with a birdie on the par-4 first hole but dropped a shot on the par-5 third after his tee shot drifted right and his second found the water, drawing a penalty. He regrouped, draining a 4.6-meter birdie putt on the par-4 sixth and sticking his approach to within 1.8 meters on the par-4 ninth to pick up another stroke.

On the back nine, he bogeyed the par-3 11th but immediately bounced back with a birdie on the par-4 12th, then added another on the par-5 16th to hold his position.

"It was a pleasure to play in the same group as world No. 1 Scheffler," Im said after his round. "I learned a lot watching his great shots. I hope I can carry this momentum into the final round."

Kim Si-woo, who had been tied for 27th through two rounds, fired seven birdies and two bogeys for a 5-under 65 on Sunday, vaulting to a tie for sixth at 7-under 203 for the tournament.

Kim Joo-hyung also made a big move, posting nine birdies and two bogeys for a 7-under 63 to jump from a tie for 45th on Saturday to a tie for 10th at 6-under 204.

"I think I was fully in the zone and played well on the front nine," Kim Joo-hyung said. "The back nine is trickier than the front, so I'll focus even harder."

Jake Knapp of the United States and Tommy Fleetwood of England share fourth place at 8-under 202, while Alex Noren of Sweden, Hideki Matsuyama of Japan and Brian Harman of the United States are tied for sixth alongside Kim Si-woo at 6-under 204.


yjc@heraldcorp.com