Sony Open: Top 10 power rankings at Waialae Country Club

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HONOLULU, HI – JANUARY 13: Sungjae Im of Korea plays his shot from the first tee during the final round of the Sony Open In Hawaii at Waialae Country Club on January 13, 2019 in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /

Sungjae Im enters the Sony Open coming off a month of rest following his impressive 3-1-1 record for the International Team at the Presidents Cup. That’s an eternity for the intrepid golfer who’s teed it up a whopping 99 times in Official World Golf Ranking counting events since 2017.

When you’re cashing checks like he is. The 21-year-old South Korean was the 2018-19 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year a season after earning Korn Ferry Tour Player of the Year honors. Im posted six top-10s and a boatload of top-30s.

A win is next on his goal sheet after coming the closest this fall with a solo second at the Sanderson Farms Championship. He did win a Korean Tour event a few weeks later and has a T-3 at the Zozo Championship and a T-11 at the WGC-HSBC Champions to his name.

Im got around Waialae pretty well in his Sony Open debut in 2019. He recorded 71-64-65-68 thanks to a sound ball-striking week. He hit 79.17 % greens in regulation and averaged 316.6 yards off the tee.

Im also has a stellar short game. He was 23rd on Tour last season in strokes gained around the green (.285) and 39th in SG putting (.323). Mix in a propensity for making birdies (26th, 4.07) and he’s got what it takes to win this week.

It’s just a matter of putting his best foot forward on the weekend.

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