Presidents Cup 2022: Tom Kim emerges as breakout star after bringing international teams into the fray

The international team won practice sessions at Quail Hollow Golf Club on Saturday, and in the process, Tom Kim won the week. Despite attending eight games on the third day of the 2022 Presidents Cup with a score of 8-2, Kim still beat the Americans and pulled his team back into a competition that seemed completely lost. lose. In the process, the 20-year-old star introduces herself to the rest of the world.

In the morning quarterfinals, Kim and KH Lee knocked out world No. 1 and 12, Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns. Although the Americans took the lead in the first leg, Kim delivered a nasty eagle shot on the 11th hole par-4, where he hit it as hard as anyone at any team event. in the history of events a teammate has hit the ball. The Lee-Kim duo never made it through after that and went on to win 2 and 1.

The afternoon was even better – as if that was even possible. Kim teamed up with Si Woo Kim, and they faced off against seemingly invincible Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele in a four-ball game. Needle again beat par-4’s 11 with a monster putt, but it looks like Cantlay and Schauffele will be able to hold them off and take at least half the point.

After Si Woo caught the 16th to equalize, the teams remained deadlocked until the final match. Kim hit 2 iron balls in her life to 10 feet. He had been watching the shot for a long time, no doubt whether he had any celebrations left in his sack after a day filled with them. He made a birdie to take the full point against Cantlay and Schauffele, but he never saw it go into the net.

Kim shouted one last sentence “Let’s go!” On the other side, the international side is struggling a bit to herd him on the pitch. It was the perfect exclamation point to one of the most special days for an international player in President’s Cup history.

What has become clear, as a week has passed, is how desperate Kim is to embrace this moment. You can almost see him preparing celebrations in his mind as he walks to and around Quail Hollow’s pitch, and he doesn’t get tired of going up against two Cantlay giants and Schauffele.

“[I] 100% [wanted that moment]”, Kim said after the game. I was thinking in my head, ‘What am I going to do, how am I going to celebrate?’ … It’s a great feeling for that because the team is behind and they’re watching. I want it more than anything in the world. “

Rick Gehman and Greg DuCharme recap Saturday’s action at the 2022 Presidents Cup. Watch and listen to The First Cut on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

The 20-year-old became the first 2000-born golfer to win the PGA Tour when he won the Wyndham Championship just over a month ago, but his legend has grown long before that. His name is not Tom Kim but Joohyung Kim, though he started calling himself Tom because he ate the “Thomas the Tank Engine” lunchbox when he was a kid.

He is an easy player to root. A self-made fast food connoisseur, he was voted by his teammates as the player who ate the most in the team room this week at Quail Hollow, and then he proved it by splitting two pairs of pants earlier in the week. He celebrates as if this is the first time it has happened and also the last time he has a chance. He is, in a sometimes joyless pursuit, an absolute revelation. There’s nothing more fun than watching a golfer delight (and thrive) in his first team experience like Tom Kim did.

Whether he will ever become a global superstar remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure after Saturday’s show: If the Cup ends late on Sunday when Kim vs Max Homa in his 10th match in singles, there’s no one else the International wants out there. Kim proved it on Saturday. And you know what? I’m not sure if there’s anyone else we’d like to see.