Lead

Kim Si-woo believes his experience at Augusta National Golf Club should help him this week as he makes his ninth appearance at the Masters, the first major of the men's golf season. Kim is one of two South Korean players in the field, joined by Im Sung-jae, representing a country that has had at least one player in the tournament every year since 2003.

Coverage Comparison

Kim, ranked No. 28 and the highest-ranked South Korean in the field, missed last year's tournament but returns to a course he knows well. His best finish at Augusta came in 2021 with a tie for 12th. The 30-year-old, who has four career PGA Tour wins, arrives after a busy stretch that included three consecutive top-six finishes from late January to early February. He followed that form with a tie for tenth at the Valero Texas Open over the weekend, his final tune-up before the major.

Im, meanwhile, has taken a longer road to get here. He made his season debut in March after recovering from a wrist injury and has made two cuts in four starts, including a tie for fourth at the Valspar Championship in mid-March. His best Masters moment remains a tie for second in his debut in 2020, the best performance by a South Korean player at the tournament.

Key Claims

  • Kim Si-woo says his experience at Augusta National has taught him where to hit the ball and where not to go, and he believes that knowledge will be an asset this week.
  • Kim, who has worked on a new backswing over the past four years, says he feels far more comfortable with his game than earlier in his career and can fix problems more consistently now.
  • Im Sung-jae is making his seventh consecutive Masters appearance.

Perspectives

Kim, 30, acknowledged the challenges of the 7,565-yard course, particularly for a player who doesn't rank among the longest hitters. He said his accuracy with irons could be a key advantage, noting that if he can leave himself about 175 yards to the pin off the tee, he can put the ball on the green with a six- or seven-iron. "I've built a ton of experience here, and I've developed a good idea of where to hit the ball and where not to go," Kim said in his pretournament interview Tuesday. "I think putting will be the most important element to play well here." Kim is 14th on the money list this season with over $2.5 million in earnings, more than any other South Korean, and leads his countrymen in the FedEx Cup standings at No. 15. Im will look to build on his strong showing at the Valspar, where he held the 54-hole lead.