One of many largest sub-plots of this week’s Males’s Golf Competitors in Paris revolved round Tom Kim, the 22-year-old South Korean who has skyrocketed in reputation due to his infectious persona.
However the subplot shortly become an uncommon scenario, one thing most individuals will thankfully by no means must expertise. All able-bodied South Korean males should serve 21 months within the army earlier than they flip 35. To keep away from this stint within the service, an athlete should win a medal on the Olympics, one thing Kim strived to do that week in Paris. However he got here up 4 pictures in need of a bronze medal, ending at 13-under general to submit a solo eighth end.
That led Kim to tear up within the scoring tent after.
“By no means been actually emotional after a spherical,” Kim stated after his 3-under 68 on Sunday.
“I feel these feelings are stunning, however I feel it’s simply all of the arduous work I’ve achieved this yr to place myself on this place, these issues are popping out. Simply the issues Scottie [Scheffler] stated to me after the spherical actually sort of got here out, and I’m simply making an attempt to carry it collectively.”
Kim didn’t disclose specifics about what Scheffler provided, however relaxation assured that his phrases carried great weight, seemingly with a heavy dose of help.
“He’s a extremely good buddy of mine,” Kim stated of Scheffler, who received the gold medal and performed with Kim on Sunday.
“We’re most likely going to play some golf once more subsequent week. He understands what I’ve gone via. Simply these issues and a good friend to say one thing like that after what he did, it means lots.”
Scheffler is extra like an older brother to Kim, as the 2 gamers really share the identical birthday. Yearly, typically across the Vacationers Championship in Connecticut, the two-star golfers have a good time with an evening out at dinner. This yr, Kim and Scheffler, in addition to Sam Burns, visited Sally’s Apizza in New Haven, a world-famous pizzeria that Kim raved about. Then, just a few days later, Kim misplaced to Scheffler in an in depth playoff at TPC River Highlands however proved to the world that he has no worry in his sport and might contend among the many perfect.
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Related sentiments might be stated about Kim’s play this week. He acquired off to a roaring begin at Le Golf Nationwide on Sunday, making 4 birdies on the entrance 9 to exit with a 4-under 32. However a three-putt from 14 ft on the par-3 eleventh stalled his momentum, and a double-bogey six on the ultimate gap relegated him again to 13-under for the championship, effectively in need of the purpose he had set for himself in Paris.
However he little doubt achieved one of many aims he set for himself earlier this season simply by attending to Paris within the first place.
“I used to be struggling earlier this yr, and I actually wished to make it to the Olympics,” Kim defined.
“As soon as that call was made, it was nearly like an enormous burden got here off my shoulders. Then performing on the Olympics got here on, and these final two weeks have been brutal making an attempt to organize, and simply staying forward. Then as soon as the spherical finishes, the whole lot is completed and achieved. I feel the feelings that I’ve held on this yr got here out.”
Fortunately for Kim, he doesn’t must report straight for responsibility quickly. He may have one other alternative to seize a medal at Riviera in 2028, when Los Angeles will host the Summer season Olympics. However the younger South Korean additionally didn’t take into consideration the required service he owes his nation on Sunday. As an alternative, he thought in regards to the significance of representing his homeland, which seemingly each athlete felt this week in Paris.
“I wasn’t actually occupied with that in any respect,” Kim stated when requested in regards to the army.
“Simply try to make a medal for my nation and never myself.”
Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By way of. You’ll want to try @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You may comply with him on Twitter @jack_milko as effectively.
