Im Sung-jae ties for eighth at Masters

Im Sung-jae plays his shot on the first hole during the final round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia on Sunday. [AFP/YONHAP]

Im Sung-jae finished the 2022 Masters tied for eighth at one-under, 287, at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia on Sunday.

After finishing the first round in first place on Thursday, Im gradually slipped down the table with difficult rounds on Friday and Sunday.

Im hit five birdies and an eagle with two bogeys in the first round to finish at five-under, 67, but then struggled with just three birdies and five bogies in the second round for 74.

Despite starting the third round with a double bogey, Im hit five birdies and another two bogeys to finish with 71 and pull himself back into contention in third place, before a rough fourth round with six bogeys and three birdies on Sunday for 75 knocked him down to eighth place.

Speaking after the tournament, Im blamed ineffective putting for his difficult round on Sunday, refusing to celebrate his top-10 finish when he felt he could have done better. The consolation, Im said, was that the top-10 finish will guarantee him the chance to compete at next year's tournament.

Scottie Scheffler of the United States took the Masters title by some distance, finishing at 10-under, 278, followed by Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland on 281 and Shane Lowry of Ireland and Cameron Smith of Australia tied in third place on 283.

Korea's Kim Si-woo finished tied for 39th with 295, while Lee Kyoung-hoon narrowly missed the cut.

Tiger Woods, who's dramatic return to the tournament following a potentially career-ending car crash on Feb. 23, 2021 had stolen the spotlight this year, finished in 47th place.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]