Tom Kim hopes to rekindle magic in title defence at Shriners Children’s Open

LAS VEGAS – South Korean star Tom Kim is learning that golf is not entirely a game of perfection as he prepares for his title defence at this week’s Shriners Children’s Open in Las Vegas where he was bogey-free over 72 holes in 2022.

The 21-year-old, who at world No. 16 is the highest-ranked player in the field, is excited at the opportunity to go back-to-back at TPC Summerlin after missing his defence at the Wyndham Championship in August due to injury.

“It’s a great feeling. Obviously it kind of sucks to not be able to defend my first title, but it’s great to be here. I’m really looking forward to hopefully defending my title. A lot of great memories. Played really well last year and played the course and it’s in great shape,” said Kim on Tuesday.

In 2022, he made golf history by becoming the first player since Tiger Woods in 1996 to win twice on the PGA Tour before turning 21.

En route to tying the tournament scoring record of 24-under 260, Kim, who defeated Patrick Cantlay and Matthew NeSmith by three strokes, was also the first since J.T. Poston in 2019 to not card a single bogey over four rounds.

This season has not quite lived up to his win tally but Kim understands the need to stick to his process of learning to navigate new courses and managing his own expectations after a flying start to life in America, which included a standout performance in the Presidents Cup in 2022.

When asked about the likelihood of him staying bogey-free again, he replied: “It’s definitely not an expectation to have this week.

“My caddie pointed that out, definitely expectations are – 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. Bogeys happen. I can’t try to not make a bogey.”

While the victories have stopped for now, Kim has shown some stellar form in recent months which included a tied-eighth at the US Open and a joint-second finish at the British Open.

He started working with Chris Como in July following a stint with Cameron McCormick and the teachings from two top coaches have helped him piece the puzzle together.

“You know, I’ve learnt… obviously this was my first year, so just that transition of seeing new golf courses, and last year when I felt like I played so well. Suddenly I’m playing really firm, long, penalising golf courses. It was just the adjustment factor and I got into some spots where I feel like I didn’t really want to be in,” said Kim.

“I’ve learnt so much this year from Cam and even from Chris... Everything at the British Open really showed results-wise, but I wasn’t far off. Having a new perspective helped me get more comfortable with myself, and especially out here when you’re not comfortable and thinking a lot, doesn’t really help.”

Other leading Asians in the field include Kevin Yu (107th on the FedExCup Fall standings) and Pan Cheng-tsung (122) of Chinese Taipei and China’s Dou Zecheng (124) and Carl Yuan (131), who are all fighting to be in the top 125 to secure their PGA Tour card next season.

South Korea’s Kim Seong-hyeon, ranked 60th, will be looking to repeat or better 2022’s tied-fourth finish at TPC Summerlin.

The event will also feature 11-time LPGA winner, Lexi Thompson, who received a sponsor exemption and will become the seventh woman to compete in a PGA Tour event and first since Brittany Lincicome at the 2018 Barbasol Championship.