South Korean golfer Im Sung-jae finished tied for 27th place after the first round of the PGA Tour Rocket Classic.

Playing in the opening round at the Detroit Golf Club in Detroit, Michigan, Im shot 3-under par with five birdies and two bogeys.

He made a solid start, sitting in a tie for 27th, six strokes behind sole leader Peter Malnati, who carded 9-under par.

Im, who reached the Tour Championship—the final playoff event—for seven consecutive years from 2019 through last year, is aiming for his eighth straight appearance this year.

To qualify for the Tour Championship, players must rank within the top 30 of the FedEx Cup standings. Im currently sits at No. 58, making his path a challenging one.

He needs to boost his ranking as much as possible at this week's Rocket Classic and next week's Wyndham Championship, while also delivering strong performances in the two playoff events leading up to the Tour Championship to secure a spot in the finale.

Kim Si-woo, who is ranked 7th in the FedEx Cup standings, struggled in the opening round, finishing tied for 69th at 1-under par.

(Photo: Getty Images)