2023 Sony Open in Hawaii: Top 10 Power Rankings at Waialae

Sungjae Im’s streak of three made cuts in a row at the Sony Open in Hawaii was snapped last year. It wasn’t as if he played poorly with rounds of 71-67 (-2), but he was still three shots off the cut line.

Prior to 2022, Im debuted at Waialae in 2019 with a T-16th (71-64-65-69). He picked up another top-25 in 2020 (71-69-68-67).

The moral of the story is that you shouldn’t begin the tournament with a 71.

Ironically, in 2021, Im was in the 60s all four rounds but only produced T-56th (68-68-68-67).

The 24-year-old South Korean is coming off T-13th last week at the Sentry Tournament of Champions (66-72-65-70). He only found two bunkers all week and got up and down from both.

Im was also T-10th in the field in driving accuracy (66.67%) and T-11th in greens in regulation (83.33%).

It’s hard to believe it’s been since the 2021 Shriners Children’s Open since Im last won. He’s been on the doorstep plenty of times in the interim with 10 top-10s since.

One of those top-10s came in the 2022-23 PGA Tour season during his Shriners title defense.

Last season, Im ranked eighth in strokes gained per round off the tee (.651), ninth in SG tee to green (1.342), and 12th in SG around the green (.383) to help him finish sixth overall (1.668).

He was also 35th in birdies per round (3.99) and third in par-4 scoring (3.95).

Im became a married man over the offseason. Perhaps with the wedding behind him, he’ll have peace of mind to play his best golf and rack up wins like he ought to.