Im ready to challenge for title at Zozo Championship

Im Sung-jae will be hoping to translate his recent run of good form into a third PGA Tour victory at the $8.5 million Zozo Championship which begins on Thursday.

Im Sung-jae lines up a putt on the 15th green ahead of Zozo Championship at Narashino Country Club on Wednesday in Inzai, Chiba, Japan. [GETTY IMAGES]

Im Sung-jae will be hoping to translate his recent run of good form into a third PGA Tour victory at the $8.5 million Zozo Championship which begins on Thursday.

The 25-year-old Im was part of a triumphant Korean squad which won the team gold medal in the recent Asian Games in China and also earned the silver medal in the individual category. Last weekend, he finished tied second in the Genesis Championship on the Korean PGA Tour, losing in a three-way playoff.

Compatriots Lee Kyoung-hoon, who finished joint seventh at last week’s Shriners Children’s Open in Vegas for his fourth top-10 of the 2022-23 Season, Kim Seong-hyeon and Japan Golf Tour regular Song Young-han are also in this week’s 78-man field headed by defending champion Keegan Bradley, World No. 6 Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa, Rickie Fowler, Adam Scott and local hero Hideki Maruayama, who won the Zozo Championship in 2021.

“I've been playing in Japan for several years and finished tied third in my first Zozo Championship in 2019, so I know the course well. I've been practicing well and conditions this week is good. If I can improve my driver accuracy, I think I can do well,” said Im, who has registered nine top-10s this season.

The Korean star, who is nicknamed Ironman, is keen to return to the winner’s circle as his last triumph on the PGA Tour was back in 2021 at the Shriners Children’s Open. While he has maintained his impressive consistency on Tour — Im has qualified for the Tour Championship every season since his debut in 2019 — he knows fully well that winning on the biggest stage is a daunting challenge despite being a two-time Tour winner already.

“It's not easy to win on the PGA Tour and I've had a few chances to contend for the title this season and it's unfortunate that I didn't capitalize on the chances,” said Im.

“However, I think if I stay close to the top, I will have a chance to win again some time soon. If I don't get impatient, if I don't get greedy, and if I keep working the way I've been practicing, I think I can win.”

Im will also be keen to ensure another Korean win on the PGA Tour following 21-year-old Tom Kim, also known as Kim Joo-hyung’s successful title defence at the Shriners Children’s Open last weekend which made him the fourth youngest player in history to win three tournaments.

You can watch the Zozo Championship on JTBC Golf and Sports.

BY CHUAH CHOO CHIANG [kjdsports@joongang.co.kr]