Sungjae Im Wins 2021 Shriners Children's Open With Dominant Final Round

Sungjae Im Wins the 2021 Shriners Children's Open With Dominant Final Round

(image: Andrew Redington)

 

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - It's not often that we see a dominating performance during a final round on the PGA Tour.

But that is exactly what we saw Sungjae Im pull off today. 

The 36-hole co-leader shot a 9-under 62 for his final round to win the 2021 Shriners Children's Open. His final score was 24-under and good enough to win by four shots over Matthew Wolff. 

This is Im's second PGA Tour win, his last being the 2020 Honda Classic. It is also Im's 100th event played on tour and what better way to celebrate that. His win also puts him second in the FedEx Cup Rankings and he takes home a check for $1.26 million.

IM VS TPC AT SUMMERLIN: BATTLE ROYAL

At the start of his final round, Im was three shots behind leader Adam Schenk. Knowing he needed a good start to close the gap and apply pressure, Im set off.

Right away, battle began between Im and TPC at Summerlin, with Im carding birdies on the 1st and 4th holes, then going on to make more birdies on the 6th, 7th, and 9th holes. He made the turn onto the back nine in 30, already 5-under for the day.

What Im was able to pull of next was nothing short of spectacular. On the par 4 10th hole, Im put his approach shot to 22 feet and sank the impressive birdie putt. On the par 4 11th hole, Im took dead aim at the flag and stuck his approach to 8 feet, sinking the birdie putt. It was rinse and repeat on the par 4 12th hole, with another approach shot to 9 feet, then drained birdie putt.

At the par 5 13th hole, Im was short with his second shot to take on the green in two, but a great chip for his third left him with a tap-in birdie.

Im was 9-under on the day at this point and at 24-under; a runaway was looking imminent. But, Im cooled down over the remaining holes, perhaps playing more conservatively now after attaining such a lead. No one managed to catch him however.

Not only did Im put on an approach shot masterclass on Sunday, he followed it up with solid putting. Being hot in both of these areas, especially throughout a final round, is impressive.

Im's final round 62 was the low round of the day and his performance over the week should come as no surprise for anyone. As we wrote about in our Weekend Update post, Im has an incredible work ethic and commitment to the PGA Tour, playing as many events in a season as he can.

HOW DID OUR PICKS FINISH?

 

1) Louis Oosthuizen: T14 at 15-under

2) Nick Watney: T56 at 7-under

 

Another Top 15 performance from Oosthuizen, to no one's surprise really, after a 69/68 over the weekend. Watney will be disappointed with his performance, particularly on Saturday after shooting a 73. 

***

That wraps up our coverage of the 2021 Shriners Children's Open from TPC at Summerlin. What a tournament this was and officially the first dominant win on the PGA Tour this season. 

Our coverage stays in Las Vegas next week for the CJ Cup, hosted by The Summit Club. This is one of the more elite events on tour and always boasts a strong field. 

 

 

Stay tuned for our preview and picks for the tournament,

 

 

-Nick

Toronto Golf Reviews

 

 

Im and Ramey Co-Lead 2021 Shriners Children's Open

Sungjae Im co-leads the 2021 Shriners Children's Open (image: Andrew Redington)
 

 

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - The last of the weekday rounds of the 2021 Shriners Children's Open hosted by TPC at Summerlin are wrapping up. As it stands now, Sungjae Im and Chad Ramey co-lead heading into the weekend with a score of 14-under and a single shot lead over Sam Burns and Adam Schenk.

The cut is projected to be at 5-under.

 

 

HARD WORK PAYING OFF FOR IM

Im, who is coming off a great FedEx Cup Playoffs run last season, carded a 63 on Thursday and a 65 on Friday to take the solo lead. In both rounds, he managed to not card a single bogey or worse and put on a putting masterclass, sinking several mid-range putts for key birdies throughout his rounds

For many, Im's incredible form will come as no surprise. There is no other player on tour who is more committed to playing events like Im. Last season, Im broke the record for most birdies in a season, carding a total of 497. This was largely due to the fact that he played the most tournaments that year. 

 

To put into perspective how many tournaments Im has played thus far, this week marks the 100th start on the PGA Tour, having only been on tour for three years.

RAMEY CO-LEADS, LOOKING FOR SUCCESS THIS SEASON

Ramey's week started off hot. After a quiet 34 on his front nine during his Thursday round, Ramey found a hot streak and went on to card seven birdies on the back nine for a 29.

The script did not change for his Friday round, where birdied three of his four final holes, including the 18th, to put him in the lead with Im. 

 

This is a great performance thus far from Ramey, who after graduating from the Korn Ferry Tour last year, did not have the best start to his PGA Tour season so far, missing the cut at the Fortinet Championship, then following it up with a T63 at the Sanderson Farms Championship.

 

 

WINDS PICK UP IN THE DESERT

Windier and wetter than expected conditions were present for the first two rounds of the Shriners Children's Open, which seemed to have surprised some players. When asked about the winds, which gusted up to 30mph, many players reported having to adjust their ball flights to not get caught up in it.

Despite the weather, low scores were had, with Sung Kung shooting a 61 on Thursday and Aaron Wise shooting a 62 on Friday, the low rounds for their respective days.

The winds are expected to continue into the weekend, but what is uncertain is the direction they will come from, largely due to the proximity of TPC at Summerlin to the nearby mountain ranges and the valley it sits in. 

All we know is that it will make for some entertaining golf for us fans to watch.

HOW ARE OUR PICKS DOING?

 

1) Will Zalatoris: CUT

2) Louis Oosthuizen: T13 at 10-under

3) Nick Watney: T43 at 6-under

Zalatoris didn't play horrible golf, carding a 69/72, but others played better. Louis is again in a good position heading into the weekend, to no one's surprise really. Watney started off strong with a 67 on Thursday but followed it up with a 69 on Friday.

***

 

With the uncertain winds, it will be interesting to see how players will continue to respond to them. Stay tuned for our article to see who has won it all.

-Nick

Toronto Golf Reviews