Correspondent Hoon Kwon = The momentum of Yon Ram (Spain), who is ranked No. 1 in the men’s golf world, is frightening.
Ram hit a 7 under par 75 in the first round of the PGA Tour Arnold Palmer Invitational (total prize money of $20 million) held at Bayhill Club & Lodge (par 72) in Orlando, Florida on the 3rd (Korean time). .
Rahm, who took the lead by two strokes away from the second place group including Chris Kirk (USA), took a smooth first step towards his fourth win of the season.
In the five competitions he has participated in this year, Ram showed an amazing momentum of ‘win-win-7th-3rd-win’.
Rahm, who regained the world ranking No. 1 in 11 months by reaching the top of the Genesis Invitational on the 20th of last month, seems to be on a quest to win two consecutive tournaments and solidify the world No. 1.
Ram, who raised the mood from the beginning with consecutive birdies on holes 1 to 3, was sloppy with a look at hole 8 (par 4), but made up for it with a birdie on hole 12 (par 5).
In the 16th to 18th holes, Ram showed off his back by reducing 4 strokes.
After putting the ball on the green twice in the 16th hole (par 5), he put the 7m eagle putt and quickly took the top line of the leaderboard.
On the 17th hole (par 3), he dropped his tee shot 80 cm next to the hole to lightly reduce one more stroke, and finished the first round comfortably by catching a 1.5m birdie on the last hole 18 (par 4).
Kirk, who won the Honda Classic four days ago for the first time in eight years, cut 5 strokes with 7 birdies and 2 bogeys, laying the foundation for a second consecutive win.
Cameron Young (USA), the rookie of the year last season, and Kurt Kitayama (USA), who has yet to win the PGA Tour, also tied for second place.
Scotty Scheffler (USA), who is aiming for a second consecutive victory in this tournament and reclaiming the world ranking, turned on the blue light to defend the title with a 4 under par 68 strokes.
Schaeffler was tied for 5th place, 3 strokes behind Ram.
Zander Chopley and Jordan Spieth (above USA) also jumped into the championship competition by hitting 4-under-par 68 strokes. 메이저놀이터
Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland), who was more busy as a member of the player committee leading the fight with LIV Golf, was sluggish with a 1-over-par 73, and he desperately needed the second round to catch up with the leading group.
Lee Gyeong-hoon (32), who hit a 2 under par 70, had the best first-round performance among Korean players.
Lim Seong-jae (25), who was expected to finish third in this tournament for two consecutive years in 2019 and 2020, had a good day with 1 under par 71 strokes. Kim Si-woo (28) also hit 1 under par 71 strokes.
Kim Seong-hyeon (25) recorded an even par of 72, and Kim Joo-hyung (21) also wrote an even par.
Ahn Byeong-hoon (32), who hit a 3-over-par 75, became an urgent priority to pass the cut.