Throughout his Presidents Cup debut for the Worldwide Group in North Carolina two years in the past, Korean teen Tom Kim emerged as an unlikely star, a bundle of power who screamed and fist-pumped his means round Quail Hole Nation Membership.
Kim, whose Korean beginning title is Joo-hyung, was the youngest participant for the Worldwide Group at age 20. When this yr’s Presidents Cup tees off subsequent week in Montreal, Kim will as soon as once more be the youngest Worldwide Group member.
Because the squad of non-European, non-American gamers prepares to tackle the USA within the match-play competitors, Kim mentioned Friday he hopes to reprise his function because the designated energizer.
“I am very passionate. I believe power is a giant factor, particularly as a younger man,” Kim mentioned, in an interview transcript offered by the PGA Tour on Friday. “I’ve proven a whole lot of feelings on the market, and my first Presidents Cup was simply so passionate and I wished to take action a lot for our staff. I am attempting to be a little bit little bit of a small voice for our staff as I would like my teammates to know I am enjoying as laborious as I can. When you’ll be able to have just a few fist bumps or just a few roars, that I believe can positively get a staff going, provides the staff a little bit increase.”
At Quail Hole, Kim teamed up with fellow Korean Kim Si-woo for a memorable fourball victory over the American duo of Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay. On the 18th gap, Tom drained a 10-foot birdie putt to clinch the 1-up victory, and he threw down his hat and let loose a primal scream to set off a wild celebration.
“When the feelings come out, it is from enjoying inside your self. I had a little bit little bit of a second in my final Presidents Cup the place the entire staff was simply watching over you. And my teammates, my captains need me to make that putt, , greater than me,” Kim mentioned. “I do know that emotion as a result of I felt that means for my teammates, and simply having that camaraderie atmosphere for actually one week of the yr, it is so particular and it brings friendships nearer. I believe that is how we bond collectively.”
Kim known as his Presidents Cup debut “a giant week” that gave him a ton of confidence. He picked up his second profession PGA Tour title proper after the match-play occasion.
“The experiences that you simply get out of these staff occasions, since you’re enjoying for greater than your self, the quantity of stress that goes in your thoughts … In your coronary heart, there’s so many issues occurring, and there is not a single occasion that brings the identical quantity of feelings and nerves that include a staff occasion,” Kim mentioned. “I believe if I can have just a few extra of those underneath my belt by the point I end my profession, I would be fairly proud.”
Kim is now a three-time winner who earned one in all six computerized spots, primarily based on his world rating positions on the finish of August. He mentioned his recreation began coming round in the summertime and he’ll attempt to sustain the momentum for subsequent week.
“I’ve positively performed lots higher this summer time, and the sport is in a extremely great place. All I must do is to determine the golf course and have a superb recreation plan, and actually execute to what I see,” he mentioned. “Constructing as much as this Presidents Cup, placing shall be a giant distinction. You may hit a whole lot of good pictures, however in match play, momentums are made by making putts. I believe simply across the greens, I wish to be actually sharp and type of have that edge of creating yet another putt a spherical would positively make a distinction.”
Kim mentioned he hadn’t anticipated to be as nervous as he received on the primary tee two years in the past and added that he hopes his expertise will assist him this time round, with the pro-Worldwide Group crowd behind him at Royal Montreal Golf Membership.
“I believe going to our house floor, it may be with the crowds, which goes to be nice,” Kim mentioned. “They will be very feisty. And I can not wait to get these Canadian crowds going.”
Kim shall be one in all 4 Koreans on the Presidents Cup, alongside Kim Si-woo, Im Sung-jae and An Byeong-hun. Kim and Im each performed in 2022, and An shall be enjoying for the primary time since 2019. (Yonhap)