Quick Answer
Si Woo Kim fired an 11 under par 60 in the second round of the 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson at TPC Craig Ranch, taking a five stroke lead at 18 under through 36 holes. A closing bogey on the par 5 18th cost him the chance to become only the 16th player in PGA Tour history to break 60.
Scottie Scheffler, Sungjae Im, Wyndham Clark, and Kensei Hirata sit tied for second at 13 under. Jordan Spieth is one further back at 12 under after a 9 under 62.
Inside the Round of 60
Kim, often shown on leaderboards as SW Kim or S. W. Kim, walked to the first tee on Friday already at 7 under from his opening round 64. Paired with World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler in front of a packed Texas gallery, he proceeded to deliver one of the best individual rounds of the 2026 PGA Tour season.
The Front Nine
Kim opened with a 6 foot birdie at the 1st hole, then drained a 17 footer from the fringe on the 3rd. Three consecutive birdies on 5, 6, and 7 followed, capped by a 20 foot bomb. He turned in 6 under and looked completely locked in with his iron play.
The Back Nine Surge
The back side is where the round shifted from "great" to "historic." Kim rattled off four straight birdies from the 9th through the 12th, including a sand save to 6 feet on the par 4 12th. Two more birdies on 14 and 15 pushed him to 11 under for the day.
Flirting With 59
After a narrow miss for birdie on 16, Kim rolled in a 17 foot birdie putt from the fringe on the par 3 17th. Standing on the 18th tee, he needed par for a 59 and birdie for a 58. His aggressive second shot on the par 5 closer flew the green, his chip left him 18 feet for par, and the comeback putt slid wide. A bogey there closed out the round at 60.
"I hit it great and putted great, so everything was perfect, other than the last hole. I knew 18 was going to be hard. I tried to be aggressive on the second shot, maybe I was too pumped up. But I will still take it. It was a good round."
The 36 Hole Leaderboard
| Player | Round 2 | Total | Deficit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Si Woo Kim (KOR) | 60 | negative 18 | Leader |
| Scottie Scheffler (USA) | 63 | negative 13 | negative 5 |
| Sungjae Im (KOR) | 61 | negative 13 | negative 5 |
| Wyndham Clark (USA) | 63 | negative 13 | negative 5 |
| Kensei Hirata (JPN) | 65 | negative 13 | negative 5 |
| Jordan Spieth (USA) | 62 | negative 12 | negative 6 |
The Chase Pack
Scottie Scheffler at 13 Under
The defending champion played directly alongside Kim and signed for an 8 under 63 that almost felt quiet by comparison. Scheffler picked up five shots in a four hole stretch on the back nine, highlighted by a 46 foot eagle putt on the par 5 12th. He praised Kim afterward, saying "sometimes you feel like you are playing bad when you are watching somebody just hit it to eight feet and make it on every single hole."
Sungjae Im at 13 Under
Kim's countryman Sungjae Im briefly held the round of the day with a scorching 10 under 61, including a hole in one with a 5 iron on the par 3 7th and a closing eagle on the par 5 9th. Im is one of the most consistent ball strikers on tour and a real threat over 36 more holes.
Jordan Spieth at 12 Under
The hometown Dallas favorite delighted local fans with a 9 under 62, including a streak of six consecutive birdies to open his second nine. Spieth has historically thrived in this event and can post a low number on any given Sunday at Craig Ranch.
Can Kim Hold the Five Shot Lead?
Si Woo Kim already owns four PGA Tour wins, including the 2017 Players Championship, which is one of the most coveted titles in the sport outside of the majors. When his irons are dialed in and his speed putter is rolling, he is one of the hardest closers to catch on tour because his ball striking ceiling is genuinely elite.
The realistic concerns over the weekend:
- TPC Craig Ranch is giving up low numbers. A 65 from a chaser is not unlikely.
- Scheffler in the final group brings unmatched pressure and short game.
- Wind forecasts for the weekend in McKinney could shift the field's scoring average.
The Bottom Line
The Si Woo Kim 60 at the 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson is the kind of round players remember for years, even with the heartbreaker bogey on the closing par 5. He carries a five stroke lead into the weekend with a leaderboard full of Scheffler, Im, Clark, Hirata, and Spieth lining up to chase him. If his irons and pace putting hold up across the weekend, this becomes Kim's fifth career PGA Tour title. If the chase pack closes the gap, the 2026 Byron Nelson turns into the marquee finish of the spring swing.
Deepening Your Research
For a detailed shot tracker walkthrough of historic sub 60 rounds on the PGA Tour, look up the official PGA Tour highlight package on YouTube. That style of breakdown shows how iron precision, stress free wedge play, and aggressive but smart putting lines stack into a round of 60 or lower.
