Charlotte: An Byeong-hun made an eagle to remain among early contenders as the second major tournament of the 2025 PGA Tour season commenced in North Carolina. The South Korean golfer shot a two-under 69 during the PGA Championship at the par-71, 7,596-yard Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte and is currently tied for 20th, five strokes behind leader Jhonattan Vegas of Venezuela.
According to Yonhap News Agency, An started his round on the 10th hole, recording three birdies and two bogeys on his first nine holes. On his back nine, An balanced two birdies with two bogeys before an eagle on the par-4 eighth hole, which measured 342 yards in the first round. His 307-yard drive landed on the right side of the fairway, and his wedge shot found the cup for an eagle. However, An finished with a bogey on the next hole, closing the day with a score of 69. At 33 years old, An has yet to secure a victory on the PGA Tour.
An reflected on his performance, highlighting that "a bit of everything" worked well in the opening round. He commented on his driving accuracy, noting some unfortunate bounces and challenges with long irons. An expressed the importance of mental preparation for majors, stating that his experience on the tour aids his mindset. He emphasized the need to strategically manage missed shots throughout the tournament.
The tournament also saw participation from other South Korean players. Tom Kim shot an even 71, tying for 46th place after an inconsistent back nine. Kim achieved an eagle on the par-5 15th but struggled with subsequent holes, culminating in a double-bogey on the 18th. Kim Si-woo finished with a score of 72, tying for 60th, after experiencing similar challenges, including an eagle at the 15th and a double-bogey at the 18th.
Im Sung-jae, the top-ranked South Korean player entering the week, completed the first round with a score of two-over 73, placing him in a tie for 73rd. His round included two birdies and three bogeys over eight holes, followed by a series of pars before a bogey at the par-3 17th.