Lee Kyoung-hoon struggled to a 4-over-par 75 in his return to the PGA Tour at the Cognizant Classic (total purse $9.6 million) on Thursday, his first tournament in nearly a year.
Lee carded three birdies but suffered through a roller-coaster round with three bogeys and two double bogeys at PGA National Champion Course (par 71) in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Sitting around 100th place, he faces an uphill battle to make the cut.
The two-time PGA Tour winner, who claimed victories in 2021 and 2022, missed most of the 2025 season due to a hip injury. His last PGA Tour start was at the Houston Open in March last year.
Other Korean players also struggled. Kim Seong-hyeon, who returned to the PGA Tour this year after being relegated to the Korn Ferry Tour last season, finished at 3-over. Kim Joo-hyung, who recently married, also posted a disappointing 4-over.
Austin Smotherman of the United States fired a flawless 9-under-par 62 to take the solo lead, carding nine birdies without a bogey. Smotherman is still seeking his first PGA Tour victory. Two-time winner Nico Echavarria of Colombia sits one stroke back at 8-under. Taylor Moore and Daniel Berger of the United States are among those tied for third at 4-under.