Sungjae Im made three birdies on the back nine and squeaked in front halfway through the Truist Championship on Friday in Charlotte.
Im posted a steady 2-under-par 69 at Quail Hollow Club to get to 9-under 133 and earn a one-shot edge over Englishman Tommy Fleetwood, who posted his second straight 67. Justin Thomas and Englishman Alex Fitzpatrick are tied for third at 7 under after posting matching 68s.
The native of South Korea is vying for the biggest victory of his career. He’s won twice on the PGA Tour, but not since October 2021, and last won on the Korean Tour in 2024.
The first round of the $20 million, no-cut signature event was interrupted by inclement weather late Thursday and 20 golfers completed the round Friday morning. Im had just made an eagle to get to 7 under before he ran out of time, and he wrapped his round Friday with two pars.
He followed that with nine straight pars to open Round 2 before birdieing No. 10 and bogeying No. 12. Him matched then-leader Matt McCarty at 8 under by birdieing the short par-4 14th and touched 9 under with a well-played birdie at the par-5 15th.
McCarty shot a 63 to set the first-round lead but was 2 over for his round with one hole to go late Friday afternoon.
Fitzpatrick is nine strokes ahead of older brother and World No. 3 Matt Fitzpatrick (70 Friday, 2 over for the event). Alex Fitzpatrick received his PGA Tour card and exemptions into the remaining signature events when he and his brother won the Zurich Classic of New Orleans team event last month.
