May 7, 2026; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Sungjae Im sets his ball on the fifth green during the first round of the Truist Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
Sungjae Im birdied three of the back-nine holes at Quail Hollow Club on Friday to claim the outright lead at the halfway mark of the Truist Championship in Charlotte.
Im carded a steady 2-under-par 69, reaching 9-under 133 overall, for a one-stroke advantage over Englishman Tommy Fleetwood, who followed his opening 67 with another 67. Justin Thomas and England’s Alex Fitzpatrick are tied for third at 7 under after both posted 68s.
The South Korean is chasing the biggest win of his career. He has two PGA Tour victories, the last coming in October 2021, and most recently won on the Korean Tour in 2024.
The $20 million, no-cut signature event saw its first round delayed by bad weather Thursday evening, with 20 players needing to finish Friday morning. Im had just made an eagle to reach 7 under when play was halted, and he completed the round with two pars.
He opened Friday’s second round with nine consecutive pars, then birdied the 10th and bogeyed the 12th. Im tied then-leader Matt McCarty at 8 under with a birdie on the short par-4 14th, then moved to 9 under with a well-played birdie on the par-5 15th.
McCarty shot a 63 to take the first-round lead but was 2 over for his round with one hole remaining late Friday.
Alex Fitzpatrick sits nine shots ahead of his older brother and World No. 3 Matt Fitzpatrick (70 Friday, 2 over for the event). Alex earned his PGA Tour card and exemptions into the remaining signature events after he and Matt won the Zurich Classic of New Orleans team event last month.
