2021 Houston Open: Top 10 power rankings at Memorial Park
![Nov 6, 2020; Houston, Texas, USA; A view of the Vivint Houston Open tee box on the 10th tee during the second round of the Houston Open golf tournament at Memorial Park Golf Course. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports Nov 6, 2020; Houston, Texas, USA; A view of the Vivint Houston Open tee box on the 10th tee during the second round of the Houston Open golf tournament at Memorial Park Golf Course. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/2fbbe8959c53a03978683a1a3c2e321dac842424a342c71e93d04f93a2eee374.jpg)
Sungjae Im is already a winner on the young 2021-22 PGA Tour season. The South Korean star recorded his second career win, doing so at the Shriner’s Childrens Open.
Im was the clear cream of the crop in Las Vegas, firing 63-65-70-62 to dust Matthew Wolff by four shots and a group of three players in third place by five.
He did not have his best game through the first half of 2021, but has gradually returned to being an ultra-consistent player.
Im has made eight cuts in a row and hasn’t missed since May. He earned solo third at the BMW Championship and followed up his Shriner’s win with T-9th his last time out at the CJ Cup.
The 23-year-old doesn’t take many tournaments off, so taking a couple weeks away prior to the Houston Open should have him recharged.
Im has experience at Memorial Park. He shook off an opening 74 to finish 68-69-71 for T-50th.
Last season on the PGA Tour, Im ranked 16th in strokes gained off the tee (.526).
He was a top-50 putter, too, and won on Bermuda greens like we’ll see this week at the 2020 Honda Classic.
Playing the most rounds of anybody certainly helps, but it still takes talent to lead the PGA Tour in birdies. Im couldn’t quite make it to 500, settling for 498.
Balancing it out to a birdies-per-round level, Im is still 30th at 4.08.
Taking advantage of the par-5s is a key to success at Memorial Park. Im was 30th in par-5 scoring average (4.57).