THE CJ CUP BYRON NELSON

May 22, 2026

Sungjae Im

TPC Craig Ranch

Quick Quotes

Q. Sungjae, can you walk us through the hole-in-one, please? Club, distance.

SUNGJAE IM: Meter, 205 meters, 5-iron.

Q. Did you hit it as you wanted?

SUNGJAE IM: Yes.

Q. Looked like you were a little bit surprised?

SUNGJAE IM: I was surprised, but I hit a really good shot. I didn't expect it was going to go in, so I was very surprised.

Q. Sungjae, can you walk us through the hole-in-one, please? Club, distance.

SUNGJAE IM: Meter, 205 meters, 5-iron.

Q. Did you hit it as you wanted?

SUNGJAE IM: Yes.

Q. Looked like you were a little bit surprised?

SUNGJAE IM: I was surprised, but I hit a really good shot. I didn't expect it was going to go in, so I was very surprised.

Q. How would you assess today’s round, especially with the hole-in-one near the end?

SUNGJAE IM: I’m very pleased with today’s round. Everything felt solid, from my driver to my putting. And then to have a hole-in-one toward the end was a little unexpected, but obviously very exciting.

It was also nice to see Jordan and Chris, who I played with today, enjoy that moment with me.

Q. You played alongside Jordan for the past two days. What was the atmosphere like in the group today?

SUNGJAE IM: I’m really satisfied with the round today. I played with Jordan for the last two days, and he was also playing extremely well, especially on the back nine. I think we were able to feed off each other’s good play.

Everyone was congratulating each other on good shots. The energy in the group was really positive, and we were able to finish the round on a high note.

Q. You’ve been in contention a few times this season. How do you feel about your chances heading into the weekend?

SUNGJAE IM: Looking back at a few recent tournaments, including the Valspar Championship, I feel that when my game is in good shape, I’m capable of putting myself in contention. This week feels like another good opportunity for me.

If the weather stays good over the weekend, I think this course allows you to play aggressively. The greens are receptive, so there should be a lot of chances to create birdie opportunities. I want to keep giving myself as many chances as possible.

Q. How has the course changed after the renovation, especially the greens?

SUNGJAE IM: The greens have definitely changed since the renovation. Maybe because of the rain this year, the greens have been very receptive, so I haven’t felt too much difficulty hitting into them. There is quite a bit of slope on the greens, but overall they are manageable. If you judge the distance well and make the right club selection, I think there are plenty of birdie opportunities out there.

If the weather is good and the wind stays down, I think the winning score could be somewhere around 20 to 25 under.

Q. It has been a few years since your last win. How do you handle being in contention again?

SUNGJAE IM: It has been about four or five years since my last win. This year, I’ve been in contention a couple of times, and at the Truist Championship I was also tied for the lead at one point.

Of course, being in contention brings some pressure, but I want to use those experiences in a positive way this week.

Q. You’ve had a busy stretch recently, including a trip back to Korea. How are you managing your energy?

SUNGJAE IM: I went back to Korea in the middle of this stretch, and this is now almost my seventh straight week playing. So naturally, my body is a little tired, and I know I need to manage myself physically. I’ll try to rest well in the afternoon and prepare myself to play well over the weekend.

Q. What will you do with the ball from your hole-in-one?

SUNGJAE IM: Since it’s a lucky ball, I think I’ll keep it for now.