Kim Si-woo looks to go two in a row at The American Express

Kim Si-woo is looking to repeat his 2021 success at The American Express at the Pete Dye Stadium Course in La Quinta, California from Thursday as he mounts a bid to go two in a row following a victory at the Sony Open last week.

Kim Si-woo plays a second shot on the 15th hole during the final round of the Sony Open in Hawaii at Waialae Country Club on Sunday in Honolulu, Hawaii. [AFP/YONHAP]

Kim Si-woo is looking to repeat his 2021 success at The American Express at the Pete Dye Stadium Course in La Quinta, California from Thursday as he mounts a bid to go two in a row following a victory at the Sony Open last week.

Kim, the only Korean ever to win at the southern California tournament better known as the Desert Classic, arrives in La Quinta on the heels of a sensational come-from-behind win at the Sony Open in Hawaii last week.

Kim blazed to victory over American Hayden Buckley at Waialae Country Club in Hawaii last week, taking his fourth career PGA Tour title, and his first as a married man. Trailing overnight by three shots, 27-year-old Kim got hot early in his final round with three opening birdies and, after jostling for the lead with three more birdies and two bogeys, he chipped in for a glorious birdie on 17 and tapped in at the par-5 18th hole for a 6-under 64 and 18-under 262 winning total.

Back in the desert, Kim’s 2021 victory at The American Express was by an equally tight margin, edging out Patrick Cantlay for a one-stroke win.

Kim is one of seven Korean golfers competing at this year’s The American Express, alongside An Byeong-hun, Im Sung-jae, Kang Sung-hoon, Kim Seong-hyeon, Kim Joo-hyung and Lee Kyoung-hoon.

An and Kim Seong-hyeon, who graduated from the Korn Ferry Tour, enter The American Express on good form, having finished tied for 12th on 268 in Hawaii last week.

Kim Joo-hyung, who competes as Tom Kim, and Lee also both had good starts to the year, finishing in the top 10 at the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii on Jan. 8. Kim Joo-hyung finished tied for fifth, with Lee tying for seventh.

Twenty-year-old Kim Joo-hyung has arisen as the darling of the PGA over the last year. After starting 2022 without any PGA Tour status, the young phenom ended it with two impressive victories at the Wyndham Championship and Shriners Children’s Open.

He was also a standout performer in the Presidents Cup and rose to 14th in the world where he is now the highest-ranked Asian golfer.

On the FedExCup standings, Kim’s position is even more impressive, coming in at No. 3 behind Seamus Power and Max Homa. Kim Si-woo is the second-highest ranked Korean golfer at No. 8, with Lee following at No. 30.

Im, who was the top-ranked Korean golfer this time last year, missed the cut at the Sony Open but did tie for 13th at the Sentry Tournament of Champions and for eighth at the Hero World Challenge in December last year.

Kang is the first Korean to tee off in California on Thursday at 9:03 a.m. on the 10th hole of the La Quinta Court with Dylan Frittelli of South Africa. Kim Joo-hyung follows on the first hole at 9:47 a.m. with Sahith Theegala of the United States, with Kim Si-woo following immediately after in the 9:58 a.m. group on the 10th hole with Justin Rose of England.

Kim Seong-hyeon, An and Im will all start their first round on the Nicklaus Tournament Course, with Lee alone starting on the Pete Dye Stadium Course.

BY JIM BULLEY AND CHUAH CHOO CHIANG [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]