Kim Joo-hyung Aims for First PGA Win in Nearly Three Years at John Deere Classic

Kim Joo-hyung, who finished third at the 126th US Open, aims for his fourth career PGA Tour victory at the John Deere Classic with a total purse of $8.8 million. [Photo=Yonhap News·Reuters]

Kim Joo-hyung, who recently finished third at the 126th US Open, is set to compete in the John Deere Classic, which has a total purse of $8.8 million, as he seeks his fourth career PGA Tour victory. With many top players opting out, this presents an opportunity for him to not only win but also accumulate FedEx Cup points for playoff qualification.

Kim will participate in the John Deere Classic from July 3 to July 6 at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois.

Currently holding three PGA Tour victories, Kim faced a challenging season last year, finishing in the top 10 only once out of 26 tournaments without a win. This season, he has managed just one top-10 finish in 14 events since the start.

However, his recent performance at the US Open, where he secured a solo third place, has provided a much-needed boost. This marks his first time finishing in the top five on the PGA Tour since he was runner-up at the Grant Thornton Invitational alongside Thailand's Jino Titiqun in December 2024.

Notably, no players ranked within the top 10 in the world will be competing in this tournament. Many top athletes have chosen to rest ahead of the Genesis Scottish Open and the major championship, The Open, which follow the John Deere Classic. The highest-ranked player in the field is Chris Gotterup of the United States, who is ranked 14th in the world.

Kim, who took a break from the previous Travelers Championship to prepare for this event, has set his sights on winning. He aims to claim his first title since the Shriners Children’s Open in October 2023, nearly two years and nine months ago.

In the power rankings released by the PGA Tour on June 30, Kim was listed as the second favorite to win. The PGA Tour noted, "Despite a slow start to the season, Kim has shown improvement, finishing in the top 15 three times in his last five tournaments." The top-ranked player in the power rankings is Ben Griffin, who is ranked 16th in the world.

Kim is also looking to improve his FedEx Cup ranking, currently sitting at 57th. To qualify for the first playoff event, the St. Jude Championship, he must remain within the top 70 by the end of the Wyndham Championship, which begins on August 10. To secure a spot in next year's signature events, he needs to break into the top 50.

Other South Korean players, including Im Sung-jae and Noh Seung-yul, are also on the entry list. Im, who started his season late due to a wrist injury, is currently ranked 60th in the FedEx Cup standings. He aims to return to the Tour Championship, which he qualified for from 2019 to last year, by breaking into the top 30.

Noh, primarily competing on the Korn Ferry Tour, is participating in his second regular tour event of the season after finishing tied for 18th at the Byron Nelson in May.

* This article has been translated by AI.