마스터스 컷탈락 임성재 국내 대회 2연패로 부진 탈출

마스터스 컷탈락 임성재 국내 대회 2연패로 부진 탈출

마스터스 컷탈락 임성재 국내 대회 2연패로 부진 탈출

미국프로골프(PGA) 투어에서 활약하는 임성재(27·CJ)는 지난 15일 끝난 시즌 첫 메이저 대회 ‘명인열전’ 마스터스에서 제대로 최면을 구겼다. 2라운드까지 7오버파 151타에 그쳐 한 타 차로 컷 탈락하고 말았다. 교통사고 후유증을 겪는 ‘골프 황제’ 타이거 우즈(49·미국)도 공동 22위(1오버파 145타)에 올라가 가볍게 컷을 통과했고 임성재는 2020년 마스터스에서 아시아 선수 최초로 준우승을 거둔 터라 이번 마스터스 성적표는 더욱 초라해 보였다. 무엇보다 마스터스 포함, 5개 대회 연속으로 컷탈락-66위-66위-44위-컷탈락이라는 성적을 내 부진의 골이 더욱 깊어지는 듯 했다.

 

임성재가 국내 대회에서 프로생활 첫 타이틀 방어에 성공하며 이런 우려를 단숨에 날려 버렸다. 임성재는 28일 경기도 여주 페럼클럽(파72·7232야드)에서 열린 한국프로골프(KPGA) 투어 우리금융 챔피언십(총상금 15억원) 4라운드에서 이글 1개, 버디5개, 보기 4개를 묶어 3타를 줄였다. 최종합계 11언더파 277타를 적어낸 임성재는 공동 2위 이정환(33·우리금융그룹), 아마추어 문동현(18·제물포방통고)을 한타차로 따돌리고 대회 2연패에 성공했다. 우승상금은 3억원. 후원사가 주최하는 우리금융 챔피언십에서 지난해에 이어 2연패를 이룬 임성재는 2019년 제네시스 챔피언십을 포함해 KPGA 투어 통산 세번째 우승 트로피를 수집했다. PGA 투어 2승, 2부 웹닷컴 투어 2승을 기록한 임성재가 타이틀 방어에 성공한 것은 이번이 처음이다. 임성재는 경기 뒤 “전반홀에 경기가 안풀렸지만 12번 홀 이글로 역전 우승의 발판을 마련했다”며 “처음으로 타이틀 방어해 기분이 너무 좋다”고 소감을 밝혔다.

 

마스터스 컷탈락 임성재 국내 대회 2연패로 부진 탈출

지난해 이 대회 최종라운드에서 선두와 5타차 열세를 뒤집고 대역전극을 이룬 임성재는 이날도 멋진 역전 승부를 펼쳤다. 선두에 두 타 뒤진 공동 3위로 최종라운드를 맞은 임성재는 1번 홀(파4)을 보기로 불안하게 출발하는 등 7번 홀까지 보기 3개와 버디 1개로 두 타를 잃어 선두와 한때 5타 차이로 벌어졌다. 이에 우승 경쟁에서 완전히 밀려나는 듯했지만 역시 PGA 투어의 클래스는 남달랐다. 임성재는 9번 홀(파5)에서 예리한 샷이 살아나며 투온 투퍼트로 버디를 낚아 추격에 시동을 걸었고, 10번 홀(파4)에서도 두 번째 샷을 홀 2m 남짓한 곳에 붙여 2개 홀 연속 버디를 떨궜다. 챔피언 조의 장동규(36)가 10번 홀에서 짧은 파 퍼트를 놓치면서 보기를 범하는 틈을 타 한 타 차까지 추격한 임성재는 12번 홀(파5)에서 다시 투온에 성공한 뒤 7m 넘는 짜릿한 이글 퍼트를 떨어뜨려 단숨에 단독 선두로 치고 나갔다. 기세가 오른 임성재는 13번 홀(파4)에서도 1.7m의 버디 기회를 놓치지 않고 한 타를 더 줄였다. 임성재는 15번 홀(파4)에서 보기를 범해 이정환, 문동현에게 공동 선두를 허용했지만 18번 홀(파5)에서 세 번째 샷을 홀 가까이 붙인 뒤 결정적인 버디를 낚아 승부를 마감했다.

 

이정환은 아쉽게 우승을 놓쳤지만 이번 시즌 3개 대회에서 준우승 한차례, 3위 두차례를 기록하며 상승세를 이어갔다. 추천 선수로 출전한 아마추어 문동현은 이날 출전 선수중 가장 많은 6타를 줄이며 공동 2위에 올라 강렬한 인상을 남겼다. 지난해 상금왕 박상현(41·동아제약) 은 공동 12위(5언더파 283타)에 올랐고 올 시즌 개막전 DB손해보험 프로미 오픈 우승자 윤상필(26)은 공동 53위(4오버파 292타)에 머물렀다.

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