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| Seongjae Lim of PGA Tour © AFP=News1 |
U.S. Professional Golf (PGA) Tour Honda Classic’defending champion’ Im Seong-jae (23, CJ Logistics) competes as a top ranker and challenges to win for the second year in a row.
Golf Week, a media specializing in golf in the United States, reported on the 18th (hereinafter Korean time) that “Daniel Burger felt a pain in his ribs and decided not to attend the Honda Classic.”
Burger, ranked 15th in the world, was the highest ranked player among players in the Honda Classic. However, as Burger gave up participation, Seongjae Lim, ranked 18th, became the top ranker. England’s Lee Westwood followed Lim Sung-jae in 19th place.
With Burger’s absence, Im Seong-jae’s chances of defending the Honda Classic title are slightly higher. Burger won the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February and made a good mark last week, winning a tie for ninth at the Players Championship.
Burger also took first place in the’Power Ranking’ that the PGA Tour predicted ahead of the competition. Lim Sung-jae ranked third after Burger and Westwood.
With the competitor’s burger missing, Im Seong-jae tries to lose his second straight victory.
At a press conference ahead of the competition, Im Seong-jae said, “The performance is on the rise these days. When I went back to the hotel room after winning this competition last year, I felt so good, but I want to recall that memory.” It’s no different, but I’m greedy. I want to hit it well in the 4th round without ups and downs.”
Lim Seong-jae starts the first round of the Honda Classic with Ricky Fowler and Keith Mitchell (above USA) at 2:4 am on the 19th.