Golf fans around the world are watching the 90th Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club with bated breath, and Korean golfers Im Sung-jae and Kim Si-woo have certainly given their supporters plenty to cheer about after a dramatic second round on April 11, 2026. Both players managed to make the cut, setting the stage for a riveting weekend as the first major of the men’s golf season continues to unfold in Georgia.
Im Sung-jae, already known for his strong performances at Augusta, put on a show in the second round, carding a 3-under-par 69 with six birdies and three bogeys. This impressive round catapulted him up the leaderboard from a precarious tied 56th position after the opening day to a much more comfortable tied 32nd, with a total score of 1-over-par 145. The improvement was nothing short of remarkable, especially considering the pressure that comes with the Masters cut line looming overhead.
Im’s journey through the first two rounds was anything but smooth. On the opening day, he struggled to find his rhythm, shooting a 4-over-par 76 and grappling with both his irons and putting. Reflecting on the first round, Im admitted, "Yesterday, my tee shots were good but my iron shots and putting were poor. I even had a shank on the 10th hole, which is something that rarely happens to me in tournaments. I thought, 'If things are going to go wrong, even this can happen.'" According to Im, the mishap on the 10th was only the second time he’d experienced such a shot in competition, and he never expected it to come at the Masters.
But Im’s fortunes took a dramatic turn on Friday. The key, he said, was a change in attire that seemed to bring a bit of magic to his game. Starting the round bundled in a sweater due to the chilly Georgia morning, Im switched things up at the 7th hole, shedding the outer layer to reveal a vibrant yellow shirt adorned with a new bird design. The shirt, a special edition from his sponsor Malbon, was inspired by the local birdlife around Augusta and had also been worn by Jason Day of Australia during practice rounds.
Im’s spirits soared alongside his scores after the wardrobe change. "I wanted to wear this shirt from the start, but since I was in the first group out this morning, it was too cold to take off my sweater. At the 7th hole, I finally took it off, and right there, I made a birdie," Im explained with a smile. He added, "People seemed to like the shirt too. It’s a bold style, the kind that Jason Day often wears, and it really gave me a boost."
The effect was immediate and electric. Im notched consecutive birdies on the 7th (par 4) and 8th (par 5) holes, then repeated the feat on the 15th (par 5) and 16th (par 3), shaking off the disappointment of his first round with a display of confidence and precision. "Today, I thought if I could just play even par, I’d make the cut. But after putting on the new shirt and making back-to-back birdies, my mood lifted, and I decided to play more aggressively on the back nine," he said. Im credited a perfect combination of tee shots, iron shots, wedge shots, and putting for his turnaround, stating, "All four parts of my game clicked today."
Im Sung-jae’s love affair with Augusta is well documented. Since his runner-up finish in 2020, he’s consistently been a factor at the Masters, finishing tied for 8th in 2022 and tied for 5th last year. With two rounds left to play and only four strokes separating him from the top 13, and five from the top 7, Im is well within striking distance of another memorable Masters finish. The Korean star’s resilience and positivity have become hallmarks of his approach, and fans are eager to see if his bird-themed shirt can continue to bring him luck over the weekend.
Kim Si-woo, meanwhile, had his own battle to make the cut. After a tough start with a double bogey on the first hole and further struggles on the difficult 11th (par 4) and 12th (par 3) holes, Kim managed to steady himself and grind out a 1-over-par 73. His two birdies and three bogeys left him with a total of 4-over-par 148, just enough to squeak into the weekend at tied 47th.
Kim was candid about the difficulties he faced. “The first day, starting with a double bogey, was really tough. The 11th and 12th holes broke my momentum and led to a bad score to start, and today was also hard all the way through. But saving par on the 16th hole gave me a chance to play through to the weekend,” he reflected. The pressure of the cut weighed heavily on Kim, who admitted, “I felt a lot of pressure after shooting 3-over-par the first day. I wanted to get off to a fast start but made a double bogey on the 1st hole, so I was already thinking about the cut. It was frustrating and stressful.”
Despite the challenges, Kim Si-woo remains determined to turn things around. “I want to reduce my score by 6 or 7 strokes each day for the rest of the tournament. Tomorrow, I’m going to play aggressively and see how much I can improve,” he declared, setting a bold target for himself as the Masters heads into its decisive rounds.
Both Im and Kim are part of a growing wave of Korean golfers making their mark on the world stage. Their performances at Augusta have inspired fans back home and added another layer of excitement to the Masters, a tournament steeped in tradition and drama. As the leaderboard tightens and the pressure mounts, all eyes will be on these two as they chase glory amid the azaleas and pines of Augusta National.
With two rounds still to play, the Masters remains wide open. Im Sung-jae’s surge and Kim Si-woo’s gritty determination have kept Korean hopes alive, and the story of the bird-shirted comeback is one that could yet have a fairytale ending. For now, the action continues, and anything can happen on the hallowed grounds of Augusta.