The fall Tour’s breakout stars

4. Sungjae Im

Entering the 2019 season, Sungjae Im was an unknown anywhere outside his home country of South Korea. A few weeks ago he picked up his second PGA Tour victory at the Shriners. Now it would not surprise anybody if the 23-year-old wins any time he starts.

Im made four fall Tour starts, the others being a tie for 31st at the Sanderson, for ninth at the CJ Cup and for 19th at Houston.

But the Shriners victory is the obvious attention-getter. He seized control of the tournament from the start, opening with a 63, and following with a Friday 65. His closing 62 created a four-stroke margin over runner-up Matthew Wolff, and equaled the largest winning margin of the fall.

Even at his tender age, the world is solidly onto Im. He ranks 25th in the Official World Golf Rank, and finished the fall second in FedEx Cup points, and his 69.31 scoring average ranks      .

There’s a reason for that scoring average. Or rather, there are several reasons. Im has a plus game in all four of the major Strokes Gained ratings: +.603 off the tee, +.419 approaching the green, a magical +.809 around the greens and +.103 putting. That stands him second on Tour in Strokes Gained Tee to Green and sixth in overall Strokes Gained.