Korean Im and Australian Smith Set for Final-Round Push

Augusta, Georgia, United States: Australian Cameron Smith and Korean Im Sung-jae have given themselves a chance to create golfing history following skilled performance in the third round at the 84th Masters Tournament.

While Im fired a four-under 68, Smith ensured a bogey-free round with stunning par saves on the final three holes to sign for a 69. Those efforts propelled them into joint second place with their Presidents Cup International teammate Abraham Ancer, of Mexico.

Heading into Sunday’s final round, the trio are locked together on 12-under 204 – four strokes off the pace being set by Dustin Johnson, the world number one and reigning FedEx Cup champion.

Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama and CT Pan of Chinese Taipei, who began the third round one shot off the lead, dropped down the leaderboard after returns of 72 and 74. They enter the final round in joint 10th and equal 15th place respectively.

Matsuyama, Pan and Smith are all ex-Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC) contestants now establishing themselves among the world’s finest players.

So, too, are Korean Kim Si-woo (equal 36th), Thai Jazz Janewattanawond (equal 44th), and China’s Lin Yuxin, who missed the half-way cut despite a gutsy second-round 73.

A sophomore at the University of Southern California, Lin, winner of the AAC in 2017 and 2019, improved by six shots on his opening-day effort. His one-over return was his best score in four rounds at Augusta National.

For his part, Smith is bidding to become only the second Australian after Adam Scott in 2013 to win the Masters.

After 12 successive pars to open his third round, Smith sparked to life with birdies at 13, 14 and 15. Thanks to unlikely par saves at 16, 17 and 18, he remains on Johnson’s coat tails.

“It’s what we dream about really. It’s why we want to play,” said the 27-year-old, who placed fourth in the AAC in 2011 at Singapore Island Country Club. “I can’t wait for tomorrow. I’ll obviously need a hot start and the back nine has been kind to me all week so hopefully it can be kind one more day.”

Im, meanwhile, is aiming to become the first Asian to win the Masters. To date, Korean KJ Choi’s third place finish in 2004 remains the best effort by an Asian at Augusta.

A trail-blazer for Asian and Korean golf over the past two decades with eight career PGA Tour victories to his name, Choi has inspired the likes of Im to emulate his success. Prior to this year’s Masters, Choi told Im that he had the game to succeed at Augusta National.

“My game is like a straight ball and a baby fade. Speaking to KJ, who used to have a lot of success here, he said my type of shot-making will be very suitable at Augusta National,” said Im, who won his first PGA Tour title at The Honda Classic in March, and has looked right at home at Augusta, sinking 19 birdies in the first three rounds.

Im said: “From the tee box when I look down the fairway, visually I can see where to hit it and where not to hit it. That’s why I feel comfortable playing here. I watched the Masters growing up so many times it feels like I’m used to playing on this course even though it’s my first time.

“The course kind of suits not only me but the Korean players as well and I guess that’s why I’ve been maintaining my form. I want to stay composed and keep to my game plan and minimise my mistakes as much as possible and I’ll have a good finish.”

Pan, the first Chinese Taipei golfer to feature at the Masters since 2009, was disappointed he failed to keep up with the leaders after missing several birdie opportunities during his round which featured two bogeys and no birdies.

“I’m very happy to play in the weekend of my first Masters. The performance today, though, wasn’t very satisfactory. This is an opportunity to prove yourself. I got unlucky a few times and I’m going to try again tomorrow. This is a beautiful place and I’m going to recharge and make some adjustments,” said Pan, runner-up to China’s Guan Tianlang in the 2012 AAC at Thailand’s Amata Spring Country Club.