VALSPAR CHAMPIONSHIP

March 21, 2026

Sungjae Im

Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead)

Quick Quotes

Q. Sungjae, in at 11-under, two-shot lead, how would you describe that round today?

SUNGJAE IM: Yeah, I think I played well on the front nine and then I had some stumbles on 12 and 13, but I was really happy that my play was good on the finishing stretch, 16 through 18, and I'm really thrilled about the birdie on the final hole, and to have a two-shot lead going into tomorrow.

Q. When you made those two bogeys, what sort of emotions did you feel?

SUNGJAE IM: I thought that the wind would blow in a different way on No. 12, so it was unfortunate that it ended up in the bunker and I made a bogey there.

So, yeah, on the 13th hole my direction was good, but then it just ended up being a bit short, distance-wise. And I kind of had a sinking feeling after that. But I was able to stabilize and be able to move on from there.

Q. Is there something you have done with your swing recently or changed that has helped you this week?

SUNGJAE IM: So after the wrist injury, because of that I wasn't able to practice for two months. So I think a lot of my shots that I didn't like from last year I was able to, once I started practicing, I was able to correct and it's just been consistently getting better even though there were shots I'm not happy about, I feel comfortable now.

Q. I want to ask you about COVID time. You spent some time here, right, practicing, playing, in this area, and you went fishing too.

SUNGJAE IM: Fishing? Not really.

Q. No fishing? Where did you practice when you were here? Was it at Copperhead?

SUNGJAE IM: I practiced at a resort about an hour away from here. And I didn't have, like consistent housing, so I was living around this area.

Q. The birdie on the last hole today, how important was that for you to have a two-shot lead tomorrow instead of a one-shot lead?

SUNGJAE IM: Yeah, a two-shot lead is a big deal, so I was really happy to be able to make that, so I feel a little more comfortable going into tomorrow.

Q. Your caddie, Will, he's played here in the tournament, what, three times. Have you and he on the golf course had some fun with revisiting maybe some of the shots that he hit?

SUNGJAE IM: Yeah, we like to kind of joke and relive about who my caddie played with and how he finished, and it's been really fun to be able to do that at this tournament with him.

Q. How do you think you will feel tomorrow in the final round?

SUNGJAE IM: Yeah, it's been awhile since I've been in the lead like this, and I'm sure I will be nervous, but the best I can do is just to play my own game.

Q. Coming back from the wrist surgery, what was --

SUNGJAE IM: It was just an injury.

Q. Injury, sorry. Coming back from the wrist injury, at what point did you start feeling like your swing was back, things were finally falling back into place? Was it this week or was it before?

SUNGJAE IM: So at the weekend of the PLAYERS I felt like my swing was starting to come back and I got a good feeling about it. I've been leaning into that this week. Yeah, kind of just going on the momentum of that.

Q. Golf's never easy, but did you think it would be four years since your last win?

SUNGJAE IM: Yeah, I know it's been four years, but within that period of time I've been able to play really well. I've had some second and third places. For me, just being able to finish within the top and to have success in that way is important for me and been something that I've been happy with.