Kim Si-woo Edged Out in Wyndham Play-Off

North Carolina, United States: Kim Si-woo came agonisingly close to a second victory of the season at the Wyndham Championship as he led five other Asian stars into the lucrative FedEx Cup Play-offs which begin this week.

Starting the day six off the lead, the 26-year-old Korean fired a closing six-under 64 at Sedgefield Country Club to join a six-way play-off which American Kevin Kisner won following a birdie on the second extra hole.

Kim, who claimed third PGA Tour victory at The American Express in February, has now qualified for his sixth successive FedEx Cup Play-offs at 30th position on the points list. Other Asians joining him for a crack at the US$15 million top prize are Hideki Matsuyama of Japan (14th), Koreans Im Sung-jae (31st) and KH Lee (34th), CT Pan of Chinese Taipei (118th) and Indian Anirban Lahiri (121st).

The top 125 will tee up in THE NORTHERN TRUST at Liberty National in New Jersey on Thursday, followed by the top 70 at the BMW Championship and the leading 30 at the Play-offs finale, the Tour Championship which will crown the new FedEx Cup champion.

“It was a great round,” said Kim. “First three holes kind of boring, I didn’t make birdie. Then I tried to keep patient. I didn’t think about winning, just trying to be inside the top-10,” added the Korean, whose finish was his fifth top-10 of the 2020-21 season.

He birdied the fourth hole from 17 feet and then made eagle on the next hole from seven feet to begin his run up the leaderboard. Further birdies on 10, 13 and 17 put him on 15-under 265 in the clubhouse which got him into the play-off which also featured Adam Scott, Kevin Na, Roger Sloan and Branden Grace.

The tied second finish was Kim’s fourth top-five at the Donald Ross-designed Sedgefield, which include his maiden Tour victory in 2016. “That was like a dream, winning on the PGA Tour. Then I had three top-fives on this course, so I feel so comfortable and I love this place,” said Kim.

Countryman Kang Sung, who needed a win at Wyndham to qualify for the Play-offs, ended tied 15th after closing with a 67 while Lee also shot a 67 to settle for a share of 24th position alongside Im, who signed off with a 68.

Pan, bronze medallist at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, closed with a 67 to finish tied 29th to ensure a return into the FedEx Cup Play-offs after missing out last season, as with Lahiri who overcame three bogeys in his opening six holes for a 70 which ensured his return to the Play-offs.