Kim Joo-hyung's Impressive Performance in the 124th US Open Golf Tournament
Kim Joo-hyung tied for 9th place in the second round of the 124th US Open Golf Tournament, bringing excitement to fans worldwide. With a stunning score of 2 under par 68 that included 5 birdies and 3 bogeys, Kim Joo-hyung now has a total score of 1 under par 139 strokes. He is set to begin the third round tied with Xander Schoffley of the USA.
Currently, Kim Joo-hyung is trailing by just 4 strokes behind leader Ludwig Overy of Sweden who has a score of 5 under par 135 strokes. Kim's current standing shows promise as he previously performed remarkably well in last year's majors, tying for 8th place at the US Open and 2nd place at the Open. Clearly aiming for a top-tier finish once again, spectators are eagerly watching his progress.
Challengers and Other Notable Performances
Overy, who finished runner-up in this year's Masters, secured his lead with 3 birdies and 2 bogeys in the second round. He sits ahead by 1 stroke of Patrick Cantlay, Thomas Detri, and Bryson DeChambeau, who are tied for second place. Rory McIlroy, aiming for his fifth major win in a decade, recorded 3 under par 137 strokes and is tied for 5th place, just 2 strokes behind the leader. World No. 1 Scotty Scheffler fell behind, losing 4 strokes in the second round yet continues the competition with 5 over par 145 strokes.
In a dramatic turn, Francisco Molinari secured his place in the third round by scoring a hole-in-one on the last hole. His decisive shot on the 194-yard 9th hole allowed him to break even with the cutoff standard of 5 over par.
Tiger Woods' Continued Struggles
A notable name in this tournament was Golf Emperor Tiger Woods, who, however, faced significant setbacks. Woods lost 3 more strokes in the second round and missed the cut, finishing with 7-over-par 147 strokes and tied for 88th place. His recent performances have been a stark contrast to his past victories. Woods has struggled since his car accident in 2021, and despite a valiant return to the Masters this year, he was unable to find his form, missing cuts in successive majors, including this tournament.
Korean players also had mixed results with Kim Seong-hyun tying for 21st and Kim Si-woo tying for 37th. Meanwhile, Kang Seong-hoon, Im Seong-jae, and An Byeong-hoon failed to advance to the third round.
As exciting as the current standings are, this tournament also plays a crucial role in determining the athletes for this year's Paris Olympics based on world rankings. Kim Joo-hyung and An Byeong-hoon are likely to clinch their spots for Paris, thanks to their top rankings among Korean players.
- Tiger Woods’ recent struggles are a reflection of his prolonged recovery period following his ankle surgery in the spring of 2023. Woods, 48, is playing his third major this season but has struggled to regain his legendary form. His cautious return aims to balance between participation and avoiding further injury.
- Woods' remarks post-day one of the tournament reflect on his physical state: 'I wasn't as sharp as hoped. I'm improving physically little by little this year. I just haven't been able to play much because I don't want to jeopardize my chances of playing in the Majors. It's a dilemma.' This underscores the challenges faced by athletes dealing with long-term injuries while competing at the highest levels.
