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[mdtoday = Reporter Choi Min-seok] Kim Joo-hyung signaled a season rebound, sharing the first-round lead at the PGA Tour’s Charles Schwab Challenge (purse: $9.9 million (approximately 13.2 billion KRW)).
On the 29th (local time) at Colonial Country Club (par 70) in Fort Worth, Texas, Kim posted eight birdies and two bogeys for a 6-under 64 in round one. That score left him tied at the top of the leaderboard with five others, including American J.J. Spaun.
Born in 2002, Kim burst onto the scene with three PGA Tour victories in 2022–23 but stumbled early this season, failing to record a top-10 in his first 10 starts. He turned the tide with a T6 at the Myrtle Beach Classic earlier this month. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler recently praised Kim as an “incredibly talented” player and voiced confidence in his game.
Kim began his round on the 10th hole and heated up late, stringing together three straight birdies starting at No. 14 and then adding four consecutive birdies beginning at No. 18. Play was stopped for roughly two hours near the end because of bad weather; when action resumed he parred the closing hole to maintain his share of the lead.
“With little wind and soft greens, I was able to create a lot of good opportunities,” Kim said after the round. He added that working with a new swing coach has helped him refocus on the fundamentals and regain confidence. “I want to keep improving the process I’ve been working on and consistently compete at a high level, rather than obsess over results.”
Twelve players are clustered a stroke back in a tie for seventh, setting up a tight scramble for position. Hideki Matsuyama and Ludvig Åberg shot 4-under 66 and sit T19. Sungjae Im carded an even-par 70 (three birdies, one bogey, one double bogey) and finished the day tied for 83rd alongside names like Rickie Fowler and Tony Finau.
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