AVONDALE, La. Sungjae Im & Keith Mitchell, best friends?
Mitchell stated, “I have always been his closest friend.” “I wanted him to love me back.”
First-time partners on the PGA Tour, the only two-man event is played at TPC Louisiana. They shot a 10-under-62 best-ball score with nine birdies and one eagle to share an early lead along with brothers Alex Fitzpatrick and Matt Fitzpatrick.
Mitchell stated, “He smiled and hit a lot of laser beams. I tried to assist him when I could.”
Im, a two-time PGA Tour winner aged 25, and Mitchell, 31, played their first match in the third round at the Honda Classic 2019, which Mitchell won for his lone Tour victory.
“All he had to do was smile, high-five and stripe the t-shirt. Mitchell remembered thinking, “Man, this guy will be good.” “So I joked one day that we should play Zurich.”
Im had already committed to play with Wheekim that year. Mitchell thought that was it. The tournament in 2020 was cancelled due to COVID-19. For the last two years, Mitchell has played with Brandt Snedeker who has missed most of the season because of an injury. Im has played with South Korean Ben An.
Mitchell said to Golf.com that he wouldn’t ask him another time after the first request.
Im sent his agent a text message about a month before expressing his interest in partnering up with Mitchell this week. Mitchell, who has played his 11 th tournament over the past 14 weeks, could not resist the chance to pair up with the world’s No. The No. 18 player in world.
Mitchell stated, “When the chance to play with a superstar presents itself, you take it.”
Im and Mitchell created a funny video, which was shared on social media. Im had left a note in Mitchell’s bag inviting him to be his partner. Mitchell wrote “DUH” in capital letters and checked the box with a red Sharpie.
Im wrote “Let’s Go” in the comment section of the Instagram post.
The two men did exactly that, racing to the top. Im and Mitchell started on the back-nine of the Pete Dye layout. They made five birdies, before both making a bogey on the first hole. They rebounded, playing the next six in six-under, with Mitchell’s 31-foot eagle on the par-5 7th hole, which he called his best contribution of the day.
I also learned about college football, and his alma matter, the national champion Georgia Bulldogs.
“He is now the biggest Georgian fan in South Korea. He is now a Georgian. Mitchell added, “That helps.”
Im refused to go with Mitchell when he asked him whether he would join him for a Georgia match this fall.
He said, “Busy.”
Mitchell replied, “He would come.” “He plays every week.” “I don’t believe he has the time.”
