Ryuji

Imada

The 44-year-old Imada is one of three players representing Japan with a PGA Tour victory on his resume, having won the 2008 AT&T Classic. A full-time player on the PGA Tour from 2005-2013 (and Korn Ferry Tour member from 2000-2004), Imada has not played on any tour since 2015 and is also working as a reporter for Japan television this week. His best season came in 2008 when he was 13th on the money list. He won that year’s Atlanta Classic at TPC Sugarloaf for his only Tour victory, beating Kenny Perry in a playoff. Imada also won twice on the KFT (2000 Virginia Beach Open, 2004 BMW Charity Pro-Am at the Cliffs) and played college golf at Georgia, where he helped the Bulldogs win the 1999 NCAA national championship title.

He’s shown flashes of brilliance this season, but he’s not a very reliable fantasy golfer.

It would have been the first time he’d have played the tournament. He’s off to a terrible start this year, with just two paydays in six starts, and both are MDFs.

While he’s coming off a season-best finish at the Wells Fargo, it was only a T53. He’s also never recorded a top 25 at TPC Sawgrass. Imada’s struggles are literally everywhere, ranking 186th in all-around ranking, 187th in total driving and 185th in ball-striking. There is little reason to be optimistic this week.

The formula for Imada was making pars, as he racked up 15 of them to go with two birdies and a lone bogey. He split 11 (of 14) fairways, but only managed to hold nine GIR. The putter helped him out, as he needed just 26 putts to navigate Muirfield Village. He enters the final round at 2-over 218.

Imada has endured a terrible season with just one top 50 among seven paydays in 20 starts. He arrived at Annandale ranks 197th in FedExCup points. Today’s score is his lowest of the year. He hit 14 greens and rolled in seven birdies, including conversions of 18'4" and 11'11" at the first and 16th holes, respectively. The highlight of the round, however, was a zero-putt 13-yarder from just off the green at 14.

Imada’s finish at The Old White TPC marked his best of the season. The veteran has only cashed in seven of his 19 events and his $102,903 money total has him on a crash course with Q School if he doesn’t improve quickly. He ranks 184th in ball-striking, which goes a long way towards explaining his troubles. He has never made the cut at TPC Deere Run in three previous attempts.

Imada has grinded through such a poor season that today’s effort qualifies as a shocker. In fact, that he’s 5-under 135 with just one bogey and only one stroke off of the 36-hole clubhouse lead at the HPBNC is flooring. He’s cashed in just three of 13 starts this year, posting a pair of MDFs and a T53. In today’s loop of TPC Four Seasons Resort, he buried two birdies, including a conversion of 12'4" at the 16th hole. His 6-for-6 in scrambling included a par save from 11'7" at the fifth.

The University of Georgia product circled six birdies, but suffered a bogey and a double bogey on the eighth and ninth holes respectively. He urrently resides inside the top 10, and it would be his first of the year if it stands. In fact, he has yet to crack a top 25. He will now head to Canada for the RBC Canadian Open.

Imada enters the week 184th on the money list, with his best finish of the season a tie for 10th at the True South Classic. In the Fall Series, he missed the cut at the Justin Timberlake and tied for 64th at the Frys.com Open last week. He enters Sea Island an impressive 32nd in Strokes Gained-Putting, but his 170th ranking in GIR means he isn’t getting that many chances to let his putter shine. He’s twice played the Seaside Course, but has yet to make the cut.