Im Sung-jae aims to reach the Tour Championship for the eighth consecutive year. [Herald Sports DB]
Im Sung-jae aims to reach the Tour Championship for the eighth consecutive year. [Herald Sports DB]

Im Sung-jae expressed confidence Thursday that he will qualify for the Tour Championship — the FedEx Cup finale — for the eighth consecutive year.

Speaking in a video press conference with South Korean media Wednesday, Im reflected on a difficult stretch earlier in the season. "I missed several signature events because of a wrist injury at the start of the season, so I wasn't able to rack up many FedEx Cup points," he said. "That made things tough all the way through the end of the regular season."

He added that things have since turned around. "Still, I've been putting up consistent results since the British Open and I'm really happy to have made the playoffs," Im said. "I think I'll need to finish solo seventh or better — or tied for sixth or better — at this week's BMW Championship to have a shot at the finale. I've been practicing a lot in the second half of the season and my ball-striking feel has come back."

Im finished tied for fifth at last week's FedEx St. Jude Championship, the first FedEx Cup playoff event, moving his FedEx Cup ranking from 53rd to 40th. He must climb into the top 30 at this week's BMW Championship to advance to the Tour Championship.

Im made history last year by becoming the first Asian player to reach the FedEx Cup finale in seven consecutive years — a record that even Matsuyama Hideki of Japan, the all-time PGA Tour wins leader among Asian players, has not matched.

The BMW Championship runs Thursday through Sunday at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis, Missouri — the same course that hosted the 2018 PGA Championship. Im, who played the course eight years ago, said it has not changed much. "Compared to eight years ago, it's not that different," he said. "If I keep the ball in the fairway, I think I can put up a good score." Im will play rounds one and two alongside Sepp Straka of Austria.

Bellerive Country Club will convert two par-5 holes to par-4s for the tournament, making it a par-70 layout. The course plays long, features large greens and demanding bunkers, requiring precise iron play throughout. With numerous par-4 holes stretching beyond 450 yards, trajectory control with long irons and utility clubs — along with accurate approach play — is expected to be the decisive factor.


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