Sungjae Im hits a tee shot during the final round of The 2024 Sentry. | Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images
Im played incredibly this week at The Sentry; although he did not win, he will head home with a remarkable PGA Tour record.
Sungjae Im had a record-setting day at The Sentry.
He made 11 birdies on Sunday as he shot an incredible 10-under 63. His 11 birdies gave him 34 for the week, which sets a new PGA Tour record for most birdies in a single 72-hole stroke play event.
Jon Rahm—along with Mark Calcavecchia and Paul Gow—previously shared the record with 32 birdies made. Rahm accomplished this feat two years ago at The Sentry, while Calcavecchia and Gow achieved it in 2001.
Im began the day six shots behind Kirk, but he quickly made up ground by opening with three straight birdies.
After dropping a shot at the par-4 4th, Im made a par at the 5th and 6th before making a birdie at the downhill par-4 7th.
He closed the opening nine with another birdie, and then made six birdies on the back nine to get to 25-under for the tournament.
Im tied the record at the par-4 14th, then broke it on the ensuing hole: the par-5 15th.
Consider this: Im shot 25-under par this week, a remarkable score at any event. But he signed for an even-par 73 on Saturday. This means Im played three rounds this week at 25-under. His third round also included a costly double-bogey at the par-4 17th, ending his hopes of contending.
And yet, the 25-year-old from South Korea made a vicious run on Sunday, as his 11 birdies were second only to Justin Rose during the final round. Rose made 12 birdies en route to shooting a 12-under 61, the low round of the week, which also tied the course record at Kapalua.
Chris Kirk went on to win The Sentry at 29-under, beating Sahith Theegala by one stroke. Meanwhile, Im finished tied for fifth, cashing a little under $1 million.
Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThrough for more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko as well.
