While he’s feeling some extra juice this week as a former champ, it will likely pale in comparison to future pressure.
LAS VEGAS — Sure, there’s a little added pressure for Tom Kim this week as he prepares for his first defense of a PGA Tour title, something he couldn’t do while injured during the 2023 Wyndham Championship.
But while he’s feeling some extra juice this week as a former champ, it will pale in comparison to the pressure he’ll face when he plays in the Olympics and/or the Asian Games.
All able-bodied males are obligated to serve between 18 and 21 months in the military once they turn 19. They can postpone the date of their service but without a significant cultural justification, like an Olympic medal, service is mandatory.
That means Kim, who hails from Seoul and is now 21, will need to pull off a similar feat or he’ll be forced into military duty.
“That’s a great question,” Kim said when asked about his status on Tuesday. “We’ll know more in the future.”
He hasn’t played since the Tour Championship, but it has been a banner year for the phenom, one that’s seen Kim post top-25 finishes in each of his last five starts, including a T-2 at the Open at Royal Liverpool. But that still won’t be enough to get him out of the obligation.
And while some have come back from active duty to compete on the PGA Tour, some struggled after the time away. Seung Yul-Noh and Sang-Moon Bae are two Korean golfers who won on Tour but haven’t been able to regain their form after taking two years away from competition.
“So obviously those medals help. I think it depends on which medal. As I’m aware, with them having achieving gold they have exemptions for the military,” Kim said. “Asian Games looks like it is gold, but I think from the Olympics, from what I’m aware, a medal should take care of it.”
For now, Kim is simply vying to become only the second player to win the Shriners in consecutive years. Jim Furyk holds the distinction of being the only player to win the event in back-to-back seasons when he did so in 1998 and then again in 1999.
And according to the oddsmakers, many of whom work just a few miles east of Summerlin on the Vegas Strip, Kim is the favorite to win again, edging out Ludvig Aberg. While Kim can certainly muster a defense, it’s unlikely he’ll navigate the course without a bogey again as he did last year. Aside from Kim, only J.T. Poston has played an entire four rounds without a blip in the last half-century when he did so at the 2019 Wyndham.
“It’s definitely not an expectation to have this week,” Kim said. “It’s so easy to set them so high because I didn’t make a single bogey, 24 birdies, and you kind of have a feeling where you need to do it again.
“I’m playing on the PGA Tour as a 20-year-old. It’s hard to get tired from this.”
“Conversations with Champions presented by Sentry” is a weekly series from Golfweek. This week: Tom Kim, winner of the 2022 Shriners Children’s Open.
He’s just the second golfer to win twice on the PGA Tour before turning 21.
Tiger Woods was 20 years, nine months and 21 days when he earned his second win. Tom Kim has done him one better, winning a second time at the age of 20 years, three months and 18 days after claiming the 2022 Shriners Children’s Open in Las Vegas.
Kim also became just the third winner on Tour — Lee Trevino in 1974, J.T. Poston in 2019 — to play 72 holes of stroke play and not record a bogey.
“I played really solid this week,” Kim said, making perhaps the understatement of the Tour season so far. “I think I got to give big credits to Joe [Skovron], my caddie. He really kept me in it. We had a really good game plan coming into the week, and it paid off.”
Sometimes you need a little luck to win as well and, this was Vegas after all and Patrick Cantlay, who played great all week, stumbled home with a triple-bogey 7 on the 18th hole.
“I got very lucky on the 18th. I’m not going to lie, Patrick played awesome, and it was an honor to battle with him, and to come out on top, I feel very fortunate.”
Here’s the rest of what Kim said after his win.
Q: Are you surprised how quickly you’ve found success out here on the PGA Tour?
Yes and no. I’ve worked really hard, and my team has worked really hard to this point, and I’m just really grateful and I’m fortunate to have an opportunity like this. I’m having fun playing on the PGA Tour. It’s awesome.
Q: You’re the first player since Tiger Woods in 1996 to win twice on the PGA Tour before turning 21. What comes to your mind when you hear those words?
It’s really amazing. A few months ago, I didn’t have any status in the U.S., and now being a two-time winner on Tour, having that place with Tiger, it’s an unbelievable feeling for me. It’s an honor for me, and it’s definitely a dream come true.
Q: What’s the last few months been like for you? Could you just describe the last few months?
It’s been crazy. It’s been really fast. Definitely doesn’t feel slow, that’s for sure. Coming off a win, Playoffs, the Presidents Cup, and a win this week is, I mean, it’s absolutely amazing. I’ve just got to keep going, and I’m enjoying the ride, so hopefully many more to come.
Q: What did it mean to you to have Sungjae [Im], S.H. [Kim] and K.H. Lee out there to see you?
It’s amazing. You know, they’re my big brothers, and for them to wait on the 18th green for me, I’m really grateful for that. It’s special for me for them to be there.
Q: Can you explain how, since you had never played this course before Thursday morning, how you play 72 holes without making a bogey?
It’s amazing. With the way I started the week, I had a really bad cough, and because of the way my body felt, I had to play nine holes and nine holes. But I felt like playing nine holes, nine holes with limited time, I had to really get my work in, and I felt like the course really suited me well. It came to my eye, and I felt like if I just strategized my course around it here, around the course here, I could have a good week, and that’s exactly what I did.
Tom Kim and his caddie Joe Skovron stand on the 18th green during the final round of the 2022 Shriners Children’s Open at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas. (Photo: Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
Q: It was basically match play between you and Patrick at some point. Did you feel that way, that at some point it was down to the two of you?
I just had to really focus on my own game, and I feel like the experience from the Presidents Cup, like you said, it could have been match play, but I didn’t really think of it that way because really, on this golf course, there’s a lot of low scores, and anyone who plays well will have a chance. Someone just shot 9 under I think last year to win and come back and win by a lot. I just told myself, stick with the game plan. Whether I win or not, as long as I execute my shots and do what I need to do, that’s all I focused on, and I’m just grateful to be on top.
Q: You had talked earlier in the week how you feel like your life hasn’t changed. Everyone else is telling you you’re this rock star and superstar, but you feel like you’re the same person.
Of course, 100 percent.
Q: Does this change with this second win?
No, it hasn’t, absolutely not. I’ve still got a long way to go, and I want to hopefully have a long career on the PGA Tour. I’ve got a lot of work to do. There’s a lot of guys that I still need to get better at golf, and there’s a lot of guys out here who have a lot more success than me, so I’ve got to learn and I’ve got to keep playing better.
Q: Twice on that back nine you set up a two-shot lead and twice he came back at you and tied it up. Just talk about the pressure that that was putting you under and the feelings you had going through that back nine.
When you have a two-shot lead and you have a guy like Patrick coming at you, no lead is safe. I just told myself, well, we have a game plan. I was really grateful that Joe was beside me with the experience he has, and he really helped me through this week. I just stayed really patient. I played my game plan, and I just got really lucky on the final hole. Patrick has played so good this week, and I got really fortunate.
Q: If you could take us through your thoughts when you saw his ball head towards the desert there.
Like I said, I played my own game plan, whether he made birdie or not. I had to hit good shots, and I just, like I said, I have a game plan, and we stuck to it. I was just hoping I could execute myself.
Tom Kim looks on a Patrick Cantlay prepares to play his shot from the desert on the 18th hole during the final round of the 2022 Shriners Children’s Open at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas. (Photo: Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
Q: I’m not sure you know, but Tiger’s first win was in Vegas, and he made the comment, I think it was the seventh or eighth tournament, he was surprised it took so long. What was your mindset coming on to the PGA Tour and your expectations?
My expectation was just to be out here and just hopefully I can win. But I’m not going to lie; I’ve been very fortunate, and I’m just, yeah, I’m really fortunate, and hopefully, I have a lot more in the bag.
Q: How will you stay motivated with all this success? What will you do to keep winning just like Tiger did?
I’ve got lots of work to do on my game. I’m not going to lie. There’s some weaknesses that I need to get better at, and I need to keep the strengths that I have. Hopefully I can have a long career, and I’ve got to work really hard. I can’t get satisfied at all. I’ve just got to keep playing better because there’s a lot of guys who work really hard and who have achieved a lot more than me. I’m not even close to Tiger. Whether it’s Tiger, Rory, Justin, Jordan, those guys, I’ve still got a long way to go, so I just need to keep working hard.
Q: What did your Korean big brothers say to you on the green there?
They were just saying, congratulations, you did a really good job, and it’s amazing. For them to just, with the busy schedules that everyone has, for them to stay there for me, I’m really grateful for that.
Q: Have you now gone to expecting to win, and now has your role kind of changed from hoping to expecting?
No, golf on the PGA Tour is really hard. It’s really hard to win tournaments. I think everything in life, you can’t expect everything. I’ve just got to keep working hard on my game, and just being,I’m very fortunate to win twice on Tour and to be even out here. I think the mindset is for me I’ve just got to keep working hard and be grateful for what things come along.
Tom Kim poses with the trophy after winning the 2022 Shriners Children’s Open at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas. (Photo: Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
Q: You’re 20, but is it a little tiring winning Wyndham, playing in the FedEx Cup, Presidents Cup, here? I think you might be jumping on a flight tonight. Are you tired, or is it just because you’re 20 that you’re good?
I’m playing on the PGA Tour as a 20-year-old. It’s hard to get tired from this. I’m a five-year-old at Disneyland for sure. That’s the way I would pronounce it.
Q: People are already talking about you as a FedEx Cup winner, major winner. What is it you’ll set your sights on?
I think goals really stay within the team, but it would be amazing to do those things. Like I said, I’ve still got a long way to go. I’m 20 years old. I’ve still got a lot to learn from these guys. I’ve just got to keep working on my game, and hopefully there’s a lot of good things along the way. But I’ve just got to keep working hard, keep my head down and keep working.
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The 20-year-old South Korean won for the second time in his last four starts Sunday after claiming the 2022 Shriners Children’s Open at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas. Kim, who went bogey-free for the week, took home the top prize of $1,440,000 with his three-shot victory at 24 under over 2017 champion Patrick Cantlay and Matthew NeSmith, who each earned $712,000 for their efforts.
Check out how much money each PGA Tour player earned this week at the 2022 Shriners Children’s Open.
The win is Kim’s second on the PGA Tour and second in his last four starts.
At the conclusion of the Presidents Cup two weeks ago, International Team Captain Trevor Immelman sang the praises of South Korean golfer Tom Kim and proclaimed that a star was born.
Kim is more than living up to the hype after shooting a final-round 5-under 66 at TPC Summerlin on Sunday to win the 2022 Shriners Children’s Open in Las Vegas.
At 20 years, 3 months and 18 days old, Kim became the second youngest player to win twice on the PGA Tour since Ralph Guldahl in 1932. He’s also the first player since Tiger Woods in 1996 to win twice before turning 21. If that wasn’t impressive enough, Kim became just the second winner on Tour since Lee Trevino in 1974 to play 72 holes without recording a bogey (J.T. Poston did so at the 2019 Wyndham Championship).
Kim, who won the Wyndham Championship in August, battled Patrick Cantlay to a standstill until the latter made a triple-bogey on the final hole to gift-wrap a three-stroke victory. It marked Kim’s second win in his last four PGA Tour starts, posting a 72-hole total of 24-under 260.
“I got very lucky on the 18th. I’m not going to lie, Patrick played awesome, and it was an honor to battle with him, and to come out on top, I feel very fortunate,” Kim said.
It’s all the more remarkable considering his rapid rise. A year ago, Kim was in Las Vegas the week of the Shriners tournament. “I remember I wanted to play,” he said. A week later, he made his Tour debut at the CJ Cup thanks to a sponsor exemption. He didn’t play again on Tour until May, but since then earned special temporary status, secured his card for the coming season, notched a win, qualified for the FedEx Cup, made his presence felt in the Presidents Cup and improved to No. 15 in the Official World Golf Ranking.
“I’m playing on the PGA Tour as a 20-year old. It’s hard to get tired from this,” he said. “I’m a five-year-old at Disneyland for sure.”
He and Cantlay shared the lead going into the final round after Cantlay matched his career low score on Saturday with a 60. Kim was none too shabby on Moving Day either, playing his last 11 holes in 8 under of the third round en route to shooting 62.
Validating his first win wouldn’t come easy. Since 2017, Cantlay being in contention at the Shriners Children’s Open has been one of the safest bets on the Vegas Strip. In the final round, Kim drained a 30-foot birdie putt at No. 8 to build a two-stroke lead. But Cantlay, who won in Vegas in 2017 and settled for his third runner-up finish in this event, wouldn’t go down without a fight.
“No lead is safe around here because you can go so low and make so many birdies,” said Cantlay, who was seeking his third win of the year and ninth Tour title.
Cantlay did just that rolling in birdies at Nos. 11 and 12 to tie Kim at 22 under. But Kim answered with birdies at 13 and 14, the latter of which he walked in from 13 feet. That just meant Cantlay needed to keep going low and he recorded back-to-back birdies at Nos. 15 and 16 to erase his deficit again. Both players made par at 17. Cantlay, who led the field in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee for the week, picked the worst possible time to hook a 3-wood off the 18th tee and into a desert bush. He tried to blast out sideways from a ravine back to the fairway but failed to advance his ball and elected to take a penalty from an unplayable lie.
“I thought if I could get it back in the fairway, I’d have a chance, and I figured it was worth the risk because I didn’t think I’d have too much of a chance of getting it up-and-down from the brush there,” Cantlay explained. “Obviously the last hole makes the whole week kind of sour.”
Cantlay’s next shot splashed into the pond fronting the green. He made triple bogey and closed in 69 to tie with Matthew NeSmith (66), who set a career-best in 88 Tour starts.
Kim made the requisite par he needed at 18 and continues to live up to high praise he’s received, including from his caddie. Joe Skovron knows a thing or two about working for a player with high expectations. He spent 13 years alongside Rickie Fowler until parting ways in August and joining Kim at the Presidents Cup two weeks ago.
“He has that ‘it’ factor that he wants the moment, he wants the big putt. He wants that, and he can respond to it,” Skovron said after Kim’s Presidents Cup performance. “I think the sky’s the limit for him.”
Everything you need to know for the final round in Las Vegas.
It’s time for the final 18 in Sin City.
TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas, ranked No. 4 last year on Golfweek’s Best list of private courses in Nevada, plays host to the 2022 Shriners Children’s Open this week, and will play to 7,255 yards with a par of 71. It’s the third PGA Tour event of the 2022-23 season.
Patrick Cantlay and Tom Kim apparently want to continue the Presidents Cup on the other side of the country. They’re tied for the lead and three shots clear of the chasers heading to the final round. Cantlay shot 60 in the third round and barely missed his putt for 59, but Kim himself shot 62.
From tee times to TV and streaming info, here’s what you need to know for the final round of the Shriners Children’s Open. All times Eastern.
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Here’s what we learned from the third round in Las Vegas.
If Saturday was any indication, Sunday is going to be a heckuva finale in Las Vegas.
Moving day lived up to its mantra on Saturday at TPC Summerlin in the 2022 Shriners Children’s Open. There was a course record-tying round. There were numerous birdies and hardly any bogeys. Past champions are in the mix, and a young star is looking for yet another statement early in his career.
There’s plenty of golf left to be played, and with how many birdies and scoring chances there are in Vegas, there’s no telling who can come out on top Sunday evening. Yet the pair at the top could be a thrilling show themselves.
Here’s what you missed on moving day from Sin City.
Everything you need to know for the third round in Las Vegas.
It’s time for the weekend in Sin City.
For most, that means a party on The Strip. Yet for some of the best golfers in the world, it’s chasing a PGA Tour title.
TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas, ranked No. 4 last year on Golfweek’s Best list of private courses in Nevada, plays host to the 2022 Shriners Children’s Open this week, and will play to 7,255 yards with a par of 71. It’s the third PGA Tour event of the 2022-23 season.
It’s a Presidents Cup fest near the top of the leaderboard, with the International team represented well. Mito Pereira leads with Tom Kim and Si Woo Kim right behind, but Cam Davis, Patrick Cantlay and Max Homa are also in contention.
From tee times to TV and streaming info, here’s what you need to know for the third round of the Shriners Children’s Open. All times Eastern.
We recommend interesting sports viewing and streaming opportunities. If you sign up to a service by clicking one of the links, we may earn a referral fee.
Some big names won’t be around for the weekend at TPC Summerlin.
LAS VEGAS — Crapped out. No dice. Busted.
That’s how it feels to miss the cut at the PGA Tour’s annual visit to Sin City.
The third stop, and the only West Coast trip, on the fall slate of nine events, the Shriners Children’s Open still has a shot at a repeat champ, as Sungjae Im shot 65-70 and is five shots back of the lead. Mito Pereira shot a Friday 63, a career low on the PGA Tour to take a two-shot lead.
The tournament has a slew of golfers fresh off the Presidents Cup, and they all made the weekend as the cut came in at 4 under.
Here’s a closer look at some of those who did not. Maybe now they’ll be free to hit the poker room or go see a show.
There are 10 President Cup golfers in the field and every one of them made the cut.
LAS VEGAS — There’s a heavy Presidents Cup contingent at the 2022 Shriners Children’s Open.
Members of the International squad are making the most noise so far, taking four of the top eight spots after 36 holes.
With that kind of early success, there may be a push to move the 2024 Presidents Cup from Montreal to TPC Summerlin.
Ok, not really, but there are 10 Cuppers (eight Internationals, two Americans) in the field, six of them are in the top 10 and every one of them advanced to the weekend.
Mito Pereira leads the way in Vegas. An 8-under 63 will do that, as he charged up the leaderboard in the afternoon wave Friday. He’s at 12 under and leads by two.
Tom Kim and Si Woo Kim are among four golfers tied for second at 10 under. Cam Davis is at 9 under, tied for sixth.
Sungjae Im, the defending champ in Vegas, shot 65-70 and is tied for 16th.
Taylor Pendrith and Christiaan Bezuidenhout as well as the two American President Cuppers, Max Homa and Patrick Cantlay, also made the weekend.
