Kim Si-woo and Im Sung-jae are tied for 10th place after the opening round of the PGA Tour's RBC Heritage, which carries a total purse of $20 million.
Kim shot a 5-under 66 in the first round held Wednesday at Harbour Town Golf Links (par 71) on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, carding six birdies and one bogey. Im also posted a 5-under with one eagle, four birdies and one bogey to share 10th place. The pair trail the group tied for fourth by just one stroke and sit three shots behind solo leader Ludvig Aberg of Sweden, who fired an 8-under 63.
The tournament is one of eight signature events held each year, with the top 82 ranked players competing over four days with no cut. Kim capped off his first round on a high note by sinking an approximately 8.5-meter birdie putt on the final 18th hole (par 4).
Im recorded a chip-in eagle on the 2nd hole (par 5) and cruised through the round without a bogey until missing a par putt of less than 2 meters on the 18th — his only blemish of the day.
Aberg, a two-time PGA Tour winner, delivered a flawless performance with eight birdies and no dropped shots. Harris English of the United States and Viktor Hovland of Norway are tied for second at 7-under. Gary Woodland of the United States, who captured the Houston Open two weeks ago for his first victory in about seven years after overcoming a brain tumor, is among those tied for fourth at 6-under.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler of the United States opened at 3-under, tied for 20th. Defending champion Justin Thomas of the United States struggled to a 5-over, tied for 80th. Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, who recently won back-to-back Masters titles, did not compete.
