Round 4 - Si Woo Kim claims first Tour title

August 22, 2016

Si Woo Kim had a productive week at the Wyndham Championship. He claimed one tournament record, a share of another - and, most importantly, his first PGA Tour trophy.

The 21-year-old South Korean player closed with a 3-under 67 for a five-stroke victory Sunday. He had a 21-under 259 total at Sedgefield, tying the event 72-hole record set eight years ago by Carl Pettersson.

Kim matched Pettersson by sinking an uphill 14-foot birdie putt on the final hole, then said through an interpreter that he ''never expected any course record.''

Kim set a tournament record with a 60 in the second round. He earned 500 FedEx Cup points and $1,008,000 in prize money in the regular-season finale.

He said he ''aggressively played because (I) already made the top 125'' on the points list, and that he ''felt confidence - (I don't) have any fear attacking the pin.''

Kim became the youngest winner on tour this season, and the second-youngest in tournament history; Seve Ballesteros was 20 when he won here in 1978. Kim also became the eighth player from South Korea to win on the tour - they've combined for 18 victories - and the second to do so in Greensboro, joining 2005 winner K.J. Choi.

Luke Donald was second at 16 under after a 67. Hideki Matsuyama and Brandt Snedeker were 15 under, also each shooting 67.

''He looked like he was very much in control of his game, and he was going to be a hard man to catch,'' Donald said.

Kim pretty much locked up the tournament on the par-5 15th.

Donald birdied that hole to pull within three strokes of Kim at 16 under, and Rafa Cabrera Bello - Kim's playing partner - joined him by chipping in for eagle from a greenside bunker on that hole.

Kim then pushed a 15-foot eagle putt to the right of the hole, but tapped in a 4-footer for the birdie that put him back up by four strokes with three holes left.

With only six players left on the course and the final pairing headed to the 17th tee, play was suspended for 1 hour, 21 minutes as thunderstorms passed through.

That only meant Kim had to wait a little while longer for his victory party.

He vaulted to the top of the leaderboard Friday with his record round - he missed a 50-foot putt on his final hole for 59 - then stayed there Saturday with a 64 that put him up by four strokes entering the final day.

He'd come close to a win once before, losing to Aaron Baddeley in a playoff last month in Alabama in the Barbasol Championship.

Kim said he ''never expected'' another chance at victory ''coming so soon.''

It looked as if Kim would cruise in this one after he had four birdies on his front nine, including two in a row on Nos. 8 and 9 to move to 22 under and put him on pace for the record. When he made the turn, nobody was within six strokes of him.

But things briefly got tense on the back nine: Kim lost a stroke on the 10th after missing a 4-foot par putt in a driving rain, then gave two more back with bogeys on Nos. 13 and 14 to slip to 19 under.

''You had to play a perfect round of golf'' to catch Kim, Snedeker said. ''If he did what he has been doing all week, he's really, really tough to catch.''

The dominant subplot each year at the Wyndham is the push by the bubble players to crack the top 125 in the FedEx Cup standings and qualify for The Barclays next week at Bethpage Black.

While Kim - who came to Greensboro at No. 43 on the points list - didn't need any help, others certainly did.

Whee Kim, a South Korean player who arrived at No. 125, and No. 124 Matt Jones both slipped out of the playoff field after missing the cut.

Kyle Stanley and Shawn Stefani both finished 12 under - good enough to put them both in The Barclays. Stanley arrived at No. 127 while Stefani started at No. 133.

''I knew I had to come in here and have a good week,'' Stefani said. ''Just been a whirlwind of emotions this week and I've really felt good about my game and really love the direction my game is headed.''

Round 3 - Si Woo Kim vaults clear

August 21, 2016

Si Woo Kim followed his tournament-record 10-under 60 with a third-round 64 on Saturday to increase his lead to four strokes in the Wyndham Championship.

The 21-year-old South Korean player had an 18-under 192 total at Sedgefield, a stroke off the tournament 54-hole record set by Carl Pettersson in his 2008 victory.

Kim is in contention for his first PGA Tour victory for the second time in a month after losing a playoff to Aaron Baddeley in Alabama in the Barbasol Championship.

''I think tomorrow is much pressure, but I'm just trying to keep confidence. That's it,'' Kim said. ''I feel very good now. My shots like much more consistent. Only problem have pressure. ... I'm experienced before like Alabama in Barbasol, that's good experience. Good for tomorrow.''

After making an eagle and eight birdies Friday, Kim played the front nine in 3-under 35 on Saturday with four birdies and a bogey. He added birdies on the par-4 13th, par-5 15th and par-4 18th.

''I feel like really pressure because first time, first time I lead third round, but start very good, first hole and second hole start birdie,'' Kim said. ''But after little pressure, I felt little better.''

Rafa Cabrera Bello was second after a 65 in the PGA Tour's regular-season finale. The Spaniard was fifth last week in the Rio Olympics.

''The greens are brilliant,'' Cabrera Bello said. ''You play good and give yourself chances you will roll putts and that's what I'm going to try to do tomorrow.''

Jim Furyk, Luke Donald and Kevin Na were 13 under.

Furyk is playing his first event since shooting the first 58 in PGA Tour history Aug. 7 in the Travelers Championship. After playing a three-hole stretch in 4 under with a 60-footer for eagle on 15 and two birdies, he bogeyed the final two holes for a 67.

''Had it rolling and then missed the fairway at 17 and I missed the fairway at 18 and the rough here doesn't allow you to hit a ball,'' Furyk said. ''It's hard to control. I'm disappointed with the two bogeys. Overall, still some good position with the tournament. Need to get over that and play a good round tomorrow.''

Donald scrambled to save par on 18 for a 64.

''I hit a poor tee shot left and had to chip out,'' the Englishman said. ''I had a good number with a little wedge, stick it to that pin. Would have been disappointing to drop one there after playing so well for the rest of the round.''

Na made a double bogey on 18 for a 67. He hit over the green, chipped off the front edge, and ended up missing a 4-foot par try.

Davis Love III, the tournament winner last year at age 51, is sidelined following hip surgery.

The top 125 in the FedEx Cup standings will qualify for The Barclays next week at Bethpage Black. It the next-to-last chance to earn Ryder Cup points, with the top eight players determined after The Barclays. Love will make his first three captain's picks Sept. 11 after the BMW Championship. The final pick comes two weeks later after the Tour Championship.

Graeme McDowell, Billy Horschel, Brandt Snedeker and Hideki Matsuyama. McDowell birdied the final four holes for a 64. Horschel also shot 64, Snedeker had a 65, and Matsuyama a 68.

''It's nice to get the juices flowing a little bit tomorrow,'' McDowell said. ''I came here for a couple of reasons this week. Obviously, as a bit of a warmup for next week going into the playoffs with Atlanta being my big goal this season and partly to try put myself back on the Ryder Cup radar.''

Patrick Reed had a 64 to move into a tie for 18th at 9 under. The U.S. Olympian won the 2013 event for his first tour title.

''We're just plugging along,'' Reed said. ''I just need to tidy it up. It's close. I go through spurts like today, I went through spurts, nine holes, playing some really solid, pretty good golf and then I go to the back nine and just started getting a little loose. I need to get that better and just kind of figure out a way to tighten it up for all 18, not just nine.''

U.S. teammate Rickie Fowler was tied for 25th at 8 under after a 68. Lucas Glover followed his second-round 61 with a 73 to drop into a tie for 33rd at 7 under.

Round 2 - Si Woo Kim leads after record 60

August 20, 2016

Si Woo Kim and Lucas Glover had putts for 59 on another low-scoring day in the Wyndham Championship.

Kim's 50-foot birdie try on his final hole - the par-4 ninth - slid by the right edge Friday, leaving the 21-year-old South Korean player with a tournament-record 10-under 60 and a two-stroke lead.

Glover shot 61, missing a 6-foot birdie putt on the par-4 17th and three-putting the par-4 18th for bogey in the PGA Tour's regular-season finale.

''I kind of lost of concentration a little bit, got eat up in the moment and kind of just wasn't focused,'' Glover said about the par miss on 18. ''My fault, stupid, but it happens.''

They missed chances to become the second player this month to break 60 on the PGA Tour.

Jim Furyk, tied for second with Glover and two others, shot the first 58 in PGA Tour history Aug. 7 in the final round of the Travelers Championship. Six players, including Furyk, have shot 59.

Kim drove into the left rough on the par-4 18th, costing himself a clean shot at the front pin position.

''Tee shot aggressive,'' Kim said. ''Yesterday, hit 3-wood, but today just try to hit driver. Hit driver and then missed left. Just tough, tough lie and ... tough pin. I'm trying before like 10 yards, 15 yards landing, but almost hit the green landing. Putting, really fast down grain and just trying to par, but almost close there.''

Kim eagled the par-5 fifth, hitting a 347-yard drive and a 170-yard approach to 10 feet. He made the last of his 10 birdies on the par-4 eighth, holing another 10-footer. Kim played his opening nine in 6-under 29, and also birdied the par-4 second - making another 10-footer.

''My irons and putting game is much better,'' Kim said. ''Much more putting practice last week.''

After making three bogeys in an opening 68, Kim had a 12-under 128 total to take the two shot advantage over Furyk, Lucas Glover, Kevin Na and Japan's Hideki Matsuyama into the weekend.

''Not so much celebrate today,'' Kim said. ''After this week, play good, I celebrate. Just trying rest today and then to see dinner.''

Kim's previous best on the PGA Tour was a final-round 63 last month in a playoff loss to Aaron Baddeley last month in Alabama in the Barbasol Championship.

Furyk had a 64, birdieing four in a row on Nos. 13-16.

''I'm a little surprised how low the scoring is,'' Furyk said. ''The fairways are pretty firm. They're extremely quick, have a lot of slope in them. If you get the ball in the fairway, it's playing short, the ball is rolling. I can see guys hitting lot of wedges. I'm still shocked we had so many guys going that low.''

Glover birdied Nos. 11 and 13-16 He's coming off a seven-week break.

''Five weeks of playing. Little golfed out,'' Glover said. ''Wanted some family time and took some family time and just had a situation with my father-in-law couple weeks ago, so withdrew from Hartford. He's doing better, so here we are.''

Matsuyama shot a 64.

Na, tied for the first-round lead with Spain's Rafa Cabrera Bello at 63, had a 67.

''I'm in good position for the weekend,'' Na said. ''Keep attacking those flags and we'll see.''

Cabrera Bello was three strokes back at 9 under after a 68.

''I felt I played good for the majority of the round, just the putts didn't want to drop in,'' said Cabrera Bello, fifth last week in the Rio Olympics.

U.S. Olympian Rickie Fowler was tied for 11th at 6 under after his second 67.

Patrick Reed was 3 under after a 71. He won the 2013 event for his first tour title.

Davis Love III, the tournament winner last year at age 51, is sidelined following hip surgery.

The top 125 in the FedEx Cup standings will qualify for The Barclays next week at Bethpage Black. It the next-to-last chance to earn Ryder Cup points, with the top eight players determined after The Barclays. Love will make his first three captain's picks Sept. 11 after the BMW Championship. The final pick comes two weeks later after the Tour Championship.

Round 1 - Rafa Cabrera Bello & Kevin Na share lead

August 19, 2016

Rested after the Rio Olympics, Rafa Cabrera Bello shot a 7-under 63 on Thursday in the Wyndham Championship for a share of the first-round lead with Kevin Na.

Cabrera Bello eagled the par-5 fifth and closed the bogey-free round with a birdie on Sedgefield's par-4 ninth. On Sunday, the 32-year-old Spaniard tied for fifth in Rio.

''Last week was a big adrenaline week,'' Cabrera Bello said. ''It was the first time I was really not playing for myself, just playing for my country and obviously it's a huge honor, but also big responsibility. I wanted to do good and I was pleased with my result. ... Coming into this week, I felt the game was good, just needed a bit of rest.''

The four-time European Tour winner is trying to stay in position for a Ryder Cup spot, with more ranking points available in North Carolina than the European event in the Czech Republic. The shorter travel also played a role in his decision to play the tournament.

''There was a chance of me not making it through the money list and making it through the world ranking points list, that's what I wanted to focus on,'' Cabrera Bello said. ''I'm pretty sure this week has a stronger world ranking than the one in Europe and I also felt that it was going to be easier to travel south to north than from Rio to Czech Republic, jet lag-wise.''

Na had seven birdies in his bogey-free round in the PGA Tour's final regular-season event. The American tied for eighth last week in the John Deere Classic. He won his lone tour title in 2011 in Las Vegas.

''Hit it well,'' Na said. ''Made a lot of putts. That putter has not been all that hot this year and it was nice to see a lot of putts go in. It's usually over the years been my strong part of game but I felt like I really found something.''

Luke Donald, Brandt Snedeker, Derek Fathauer, New Zealand Olympian Danny Lee and Peter Malnati shot 65. Donald made a hole-in-one on the 16th.

''Had a perfect number, downhill a little bit, 159 (yards) and it was playing straight downwind and good 9-iron for me and looked good all the way,'' Donald said. ''Hit a foot short and went in the hole. Bonus when it goes in, obviously, and nice to win a holiday for life. Apparently that's what I got for it.''

Snedeker, the 2007 winner at Forest Oaks, bogeyed the final hole. He's fighting for a spot on the U.S. Ryder Cup team.

''I want to be on that team. I love playing Ryder Cups,'' Snedeker said. '''m going to use that as motivation to go out there and work hard and grind my tail off the next three days.''

Jim Furyk had a 66 in his first round since shooting the first 58 in PGA Tour history two weeks ago in the final round of the Travelers Championship.

''Right now, a touch frustrating,'' Furyk said. ''If I went back, I think I hit a bunch of greens. I might have hit every green. Two three-putts were the two bogeys. The greens are just really difficult. They're very quick. There's a ton of slope in them.''

Patrick Reed also had a 66. He won the 2013 event for his first tour title.

''Just a special place to us and one of the places I need to come back and play,'' said Reed, coming off a tie for 11th in Rio. ''I'm off to a good start.''

U.S. Olympic teammate Rickie Fowler birdied his last two holes for a 67. He tied for 37th in Rio.

''We enjoyed being down there and the big thing coming from there up to here is not how much of a time change, there's only an hour back,'' Fowler said. ''That makes things a lot easier.''

Davis Love III, the tournament winner last year at age 51, is sidelined following hip surgery.

''It's disappointing not to get to play,'' said the U.S. Ryder Cup captain, a three-time champion in the event. ''The surgery went well. Rehab is going even better.''

The top 125 in the FedEx Cup standings will qualify for The Barclays next week at Bethpage Black. It the next-to-last chance to earn Ryder Cup points, with the top eight players determined after The Barclays. Love will make his first three captain's picks Sept. 11 after the BMW Championship. The final pick comes two weeks later after the Tour Championship.

Robert Allenby had two double bogeys in a 74. The Australian was arrested outside a casino in Rock Island, Illinois, last week after missing the cut in the John Deere Classic. He was charged with disorderly conduct and criminal trespassing. In January 2015, Allenby was found with severe bruises several hours after visiting a restaurant with friends. Allenby, who had missed the cut in the Sony Open, claimed to have been abducted and beaten. A Hawaii man was sentenced to five years in prison for using Allenby's credit cards and identification.

Scores