Golf: From outside the ropes as a fan, Tom Kim is now living a dream at Genesis Invitational

Dreams are often made in Tinseltown, or maybe it’s where they come true.

For South Korea, 2020 was historic in epic proportions as the movie, Parasite, won Best Picture at the Oscars and became the first non-English language film to clinch the illustrious prize in Hollywood.

As the nation celebrated film-maker and Best Director winner Bong Joon-ho, a Korean teenager was among thousands of golf fans at the Riviera Country Club, likely daydreaming of his own happy story.

Tom Kim, then 17, had tickets to attend the Genesis Invitational and like many, he wanted to catch a glimpse of the game’s biggest names, including his idol Tiger Woods.

Fast forward to 2023, and Kim, is now one of the stars of a weekly show called the PGA Tour. From being outside the ropes, he is now in the heart of it all and looking forward to a first competitive appearance at the Riviera, a famed venue that has crowned champions like Sam Snead, Byron Nelson, Tom Watson, Nick Faldo, Ernie Els and Adam Scott.

“LA (Los Angeles) … I think is going to be a cool one,” Kim said at the start of the year.

“I was doing a winter camp in San Diego. I came to LA just to watch some golf and meet some people. I was there, right before Covid hit, I was outside the ropes and watching all these guys play... I like it when there’s a lot of people and when the crowd gets loud. So I enjoy that atmosphere.”

As a teenager, the golf prodigy won professional tournaments in Korea and Asia. Then, he started to have bigger dreams. “I want to play where all the best players want to be. If you see Tiger’s career, Jack Nicklaus’ career, all these guys, they have come from the PGA Tour and it has a legacy. So hoping to do the same and kind of stay here for as long as I can,” he said.

It may very well be a very long stay in the US at the rate Kim’s career is trending. He was ranked outside the world’s top 100 in early 2020 and is now world No. 15. He already holds two tour wins from 2022 and was the second youngest to achieve the feat, even younger than Woods in winning twice before turning 21.

His rapid rise has coincided with the strengthening of Korean golf in recent times. Compatriots Im Sung-jae and Lee Kyoung-hoon are both two-time tour winners while Kim Si-woo claimed his fourth career victory at the Sony Open in Hawaii in January.

The quartet also wrote a slice of history by making the International team at the Presidents Cup last September, which was the first time four South Koreans had made the same team.

At this week’s US$20 million (S$26.7 million) Genesis Invitational, the Korean band of brothers will also be joined by Kim Seong-hyeon and Kim Yeong-su.

As Tom Kim’s star continues to shine, he is finding himself in the company of celebrities. Jordan Spieth invited him to spend Christmas with the family in Dallas; he recently played a round of golf with world No. 3 Jon Rahm, American football legend J.J. Watt and swimming legend Michael Phelps; and has an open invitation from world No. 2 Rory McIlroy to go for drinks after he turns 21.

He also got to know Woods, this week’s tournament host, and is now looking to tick off another item on his bucket list, which is to play with the 82-time tour winner.

“Tiger’s, like, man, he’s pretty cool,” said Tom Kim. “I’ve seen him a few times, but to be able to kind of just have a conversation with him was pretty amazing. You look at him, and just the amount of things he has accomplished in his career was really cool to see.

“Hopefully I can kind of work myself up and kind of hopefully play with him if I get the chance.”

Much has happened for Kim since being outside the ropes at Riviera, but he’s still allowed to dream. Especially while in Hollywood.