Sungjae Im Bio
Sungjae Im is a South Korean professional golfer who competes on the PGA Tour and has emerged as one of the most consistent players of his generation. Turning professional in 2015, Im quickly rose through developmental circuits before establishing himself on the game’s biggest stage, earning PGA Tour Rookie of the Year honors for the 2018–19 season. Known for his steady ball-striking and relentless pace of play, he has recorded multiple PGA Tour victories and has been a fixture in the Presidents Cup for the International team.
Born in Cheongju, South Korea, Im developed his game in his home country before testing himself on the Japan Golf Tour, the Korean Tour, and the Korn Ferry Tour. His ascent through these circuits set the foundation for sustained success at the top level, and he continues to be regarded as one of South Korea’s leading players in professional golf.
Early Life and Background
Sungjae Im was born on 30 March 1998 in Cheongju, South Korea. Growing up in a country with a deep golfing tradition, Im was introduced to the sport at a young age and steadily built the fundamentals that would later support his professional transition. His early development in South Korea shaped a disciplined approach to practice and competition.
Im attended Korea National Sport University, where he balanced his studies with an increasingly demanding competitive schedule. The combination of academic structure and high-level training helped him prepare for the rigors of touring professionally at a young age. By the time he finished his secondary education, his trajectory toward a professional career was already clear.
Path to Professional Golf
Im turned professional in 2015 and began his career on smaller circuits in Asia. In 2016 and 2017, he competed on the Japan Golf Tour, where his best finish was a tie for second place at the 2017 Mynavi ABC Championship. He finished 12th on the Japan Golf Tour money list in 2017 and ranked fifth in scoring average that season, demonstrating an ability to compete against established international fields.
Alongside his play in Japan, Im appeared on the Korean Tour, where he recorded a runner-up result at the 2017 T-up Gswing Mega Open. These performances convinced him to test himself in the United States, and in December 2017 he finished second at the Web.com Tour qualifying tournament, highlighted by a third-round 60. That result earned him status on what was then the Web.com Tour for the 2018 season.
Sungjae Im Career
Early Career (2018)
Im’s first full season on American soil came in 2018 on the Web.com Tour, and he made an immediate impact. He won the season-opening Bahamas Great Exuma Classic at 19 years, 292 days old, becoming the second youngest winner in Web.com Tour history behind only Jason Day. Im added three additional solo runner-up finishes at the Bahamas Great Abaco Classic, the Knoxville Open, and the Pinnacle Bank Championship, and closed the regular season by winning the WinCo Foods Portland Open.
Those results placed him atop the regular-season money list and earned him the Web.com Tour Player of the Year award as well as Web.com Tour Rookie of the Year honors. His consistency and ability to close out tournaments marked him as a rising talent ready for the PGA Tour.
PGA Tour Breakthrough (2018–19 to 2019)
In the 2018–19 PGA Tour season, Im was named PGA Tour Rookie of the Year, becoming just the 13th rookie to qualify for the Tour Championship in the FedEx Cup era. He finished 19th in the final FedEx Cup standings while leading the entire PGA Tour in starts (35) and cuts made (26), playing 118 rounds, 18 more than the next-closest player. He recorded seven top-10 finishes, including a tie for third at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, and ranked 17th in strokes gained.
Later in 2019, Im reached a playoff at the Sanderson Farms Championship in Jackson, Mississippi, where he fell to Sebastián Muñoz. He also represented the International team at the 2019 Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne Golf Club, going 3–1–1 and earning a Sunday singles victory over Gary Woodland as the United States won 16–14. He joined Stewart Cink as the only players to be named Korn Ferry Tour Player of the Year and PGA Tour Rookie of the Year in consecutive seasons.
First PGA Tour Victory and Beyond (2020 to Present)
On 1 March 2020, Im won The Honda Classic at PGA National Resort and Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, closing with a 66 to finish at 6 under and one stroke ahead of Mackenzie Hughes. The victory moved him to second place in the FedEx Cup standings and confirmed his arrival as a PGA Tour winner. Later that year, he tied for second at the Masters Tournament, finishing five shots behind Dustin Johnson.
On 10 October 2021, Im captured the Shriners Children’s Open at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas with a closing 9-under 62, winning by four shots over Matthew Wolff and earning his second PGA Tour title in his 100th career start. He returned to the Presidents Cup in 2022, going 2–2–1 across five matches for the International team. In May 2023, Im won the Woori Financial Group Championship on the Korean Tour, sealing the title with an up-and-down birdie on the final hole.
Driving Style and Strengths
Im is recognized for his steady ball-striking, workmanlike temperament, and remarkable durability, traits that allow him to compete on demanding layouts week after week. His willingness to play a heavy schedule has produced one of the most consistent tee-to-green profiles on the PGA Tour, and his calm demeanor under pressure has been evident in his Presidents Cup singles appearances and late-round charges.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones include his Bahamas Great Exuma Classic win as the second youngest Web.com Tour winner in history, his 2020 Honda Classic victory, his runner-up finish at the 2020 Masters, and his 2021 Shriners Children’s Open title in his 100th PGA Tour start. His Presidents Cup appearances in 2019 and 2022 have also been defining moments in his career.
Sungjae Im Career Wins
Sungjae Im has accumulated seven professional wins across the PGA Tour, the Web.com Tour, and the Korean Tour. His victories span developmental circuits and the premier level of professional golf, reflecting a career built on steady progression rather than overnight stardom.
PGA Tour Highlights
Im has recorded two PGA Tour victories. His first came at The Honda Classic in March 2020, where a final-round 66 at PGA National secured a one-shot win over Mackenzie Hughes. His second PGA Tour title arrived at the 2021 Shriners Children’s Open, where his closing 62 produced a four-shot victory over Matthew Wolff. Both wins highlighted his ability to deliver low final rounds in pressure moments.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond the PGA Tour, Im has won twice on the Web.com Tour (the 2018 Bahamas Great Exuma Classic and the 2018 WinCo Foods Portland Open) and captured the 2023 Woori Financial Group Championship on the Korean Tour. He also earned runner-up finishes on the Japan Golf Tour and the Korean Tour during his developmental years.
| Series | Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|
| PGA Tour | 2 | Multiple | 0 |
| Web.com Tour | 2 | 5 | 0 |
| Korean Tour | 1 | Multiple | 0 |
Sungjae Im Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Im was raised in Cheongju, South Korea, where he first took up golf and developed the work ethic that has defined his professional career. His early training in a country with a strong amateur and professional infrastructure helped him transition to international competition at a young age.
Personal Life
Im maintains his ties to South Korea while competing primarily in the United States on the PGA Tour. He is recognized for his disciplined routine and commitment to consistent practice, traits that have supported his durability across long competitive seasons.
2025 Season Performance
Sungjae Im entered the 2025 PGA Tour season continuing his reputation as one of the circuit’s most reliable performers, with his trademark high number of starts and cuts made. Building on the consistency that defined his Presidents Cup appearances and prior major finishes, he remained focused on contending in elevated events and protecting his position in the FedEx Cup standings.
Im continued to balance his PGA Tour schedule with selective appearances on the Korean Tour, reflecting his ongoing connection to South Korean golf. His experience in team competition at the Presidents Cup informed his approach to season-long events, where course management and patience are essential.
Looking ahead, Im remains a central figure for the International team conversation and a steady presence in the upper tier of the PGA Tour. With multiple wins already on his resume and a strong record in major championships, his 2025 outlook centers on contending for additional titles and continuing to build on one of the most consistent careers among South Korean players in the modern era.