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2021 Sony Open: Top 10 power rankings at Waialae

By Mike Randleman

Jan 14, 2018; Honolulu, HI, USA; A general view of the 17th green with the palm trees forming a W for Waialae Country Club as seen during the final round of the Sony Open golf tournament at Waialae Country Club. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 14, 2018; Honolulu, HI, USA; A general view of the 17th green with the palm trees forming a W for Waialae Country Club as seen during the final round of the Sony Open golf tournament at Waialae Country Club. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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January 10, 2021; Maui, Hawaii, USA; Sungjae Im hits a tee shot on the second hole during the final round of the Sentry Tournament of Champions golf tournament at Kapalua Resort – The Plantation Course. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
January 10, 2021; Maui, Hawaii, USA; Sungjae Im hits a tee shot on the second hole during the final round of the Sentry Tournament of Champions golf tournament at Kapalua Resort – The Plantation Course. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

Sungjae Im’s game didn’t completely disappear after golf resumed in June. It was far from what we came to expect after a Rookie of the Year campaign and an impressive start to his sophomore season.

Im won the 2020 Honda Classic and was solo third against an elite field his next time out at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. He was rising as a trendy Masters pick.

His chance to impress at Augusta National would have to wait. The Masters got pushed back to November. In the meantime, Im managed just two top-10s in 18 events since June.

Im was struggling, but refound his talent to post his career-best finish at a major, taking T-2nd at Augusta.

The 22-year-old South Korean likes to stay busy and went over to Dubai to play in the European Tour’s World Tour Championship in December. Against a tough field, he finished T-14th.

Im was one of four players to post four rounds in the 60s at last week’s Tournament of Champions. He led the field in strokes gained tee to green (2.38). A tough putting week on Kapalua’s sloped greens kept him from being in the mix late Sunday.

He’s generally a solid putter and was 55th in strokes gained last season (.233). I like him to have better control on Waialae’s greens.

Im took T-16th (71-64-65-68) in 2019 and T-21st (69-68-67-71) in 2020. Last year he was sixth in the field and strokes gained off the tee (.843) and was 18th SG putting (.842).

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