Sungjae Im

But it was not without some finishing drama. Having made nine birdies, one eagle and a bogey over the course of 17 holes, Im and Mitchell were in danger of dropping another shot on the par-3 ninth, their 18th. Both players hit tee shots into the water on the 198-yard hole. But able to chip from behind the green, Im holed out to save par. Judging by this post-round exchange, the two had quite the time Thursday at TPC Louisiana: KEITH MITCHELL: He's my team captain. What else did we learn today? I taught him about Georgia football. Aren't you a Georgia fan now? SUNGJAE IM: Georgia fan, Bulldogs. KEITH MITCHELL: Big Georgia fan. So we taught him offense and defense. Remember the guy that throws the ball? What's his -- and the guy that catches. SUNGJAE IM: Catches? I forget. KEITH MITCHELL: We'll get you back tomorrow. I'm going to make him remember. SUNGJAE IM: Quarterback? KEITH MITCHELL: Yeah, quarterback and receiver. So he's now the biggest Georgia fan in South Korea. He's a Georgia resident now. That helps.

The 25-year-old started his afternoon on the 10th tee and traded two birdies with on bogey over the first 13 holes. He remained patient and that patience paid off with a late birdie barrage, circling birdies on four of the last five holes. That included a 36-foot birdie bomb at the par-3 seventh. The young Korean missed the cut in his first two tries at Harbour Town Golf Links but arrived with a T13 and T21 in his last two tries. 

McNealy trounced Joaquin Niemann 8-and-6 on day one of last year's edition but was on the other side of the beatdown today. This margin of victory falls one shy of the Tiger Woods bullying of Stephen Ames (2006). This result was a little less impressive as it was clear that McNealy didn't have his best stuff today. He swallowed bogeys on six of the first 11 holes. On Friday, Im will take on J.T. Poston (1-0) while McNealy will try to rebound against Tommy Fleetwood (0-1). 

The young Korean opened as the pre-tournament betting favorite and he remains the favorite (+550) after today's round. It was a balanced attack as he gained at least half a stroke in all four sub-categories of strokes gained (+4.1 total). The past champ has now been T16 or better after nine (of 15) rounds played at PGA National. He will start Friday just two shots off the pacesetters at the top (Billy Horschel, Joseph Bramlett).