Making a strong comeback from an ankle injury, Tom Kim from the Republic of Korea showcased his prowess by shooting an impressive 6-under 64 in the St. Jude Championship, placing him just one stroke behind leader Jordan Spieth.
During the event, Kim’s unique choice of fashion, with his pants rolled up to his calves, raised eyebrows among fans and viewers. Speculations arose whether this decision was intentional to provide airflow to his right ankle, which had suffered a grade 1 tear last month, or if it was a reflection of his unconventional fashion sense. This move generated significant chatter on social media, adding an extra layer of interest to the first of the three FedExCup Playoffs events.
Commenting on his outfit choice, Kim explained, “It was wet, man, gosh. It’s one of the wettest rounds I’ve played in a long time. I think a lot of people are actually having fun out of it, way more than I thought. I didn’t want to get myself dirty. Just don’t like it. I’ve had a really bad week once this year, so just trying to stay away from it really.”
Kim was recalling a muddy mishap he faced at the PGA Championship in May when he stumbled into a swamp while retrieving his golf ball. Given the heavy rain at this week’s venue, TPC Southwind in Memphis, Kim’s concern was staying clean, leading him to roll up his white pants. Although he admitted that the choice of colour was perhaps his only mistake of the day, he expressed that the outfit served its purpose well.
“I didn’t have unlimited pants, so I had to make sure they stayed really clean,” he shared. “A lot of people seemed to have a lot of laughs about it, but I just thought it was pretty convenient. I chose the wrong colour, obviously, but my caddie Joe (Skovron) actually said he doesn’t really care what I do as long as I make birdies and eagles, so it kind of worked. Definitely not white tomorrow, that’s for sure.”
Kim’s ankle injury did not appear to hamper his performance as he secured seven birdies and only one bogey. He demonstrated exceptional skill, despite having to sit out his defense at the Wyndham Championship due to the injury. Alongside players like Byeong Hun An, Sungjae Im, and Hideki Matsuyama, Kim’s opening-round score of 67 put him in a tie for 15th place. Si Woo Kim was just one shot behind in the 70-player field.
Leading the pack, Spieth, the 2015 FedExCup champion, played a remarkable round with five birdies and an eagle, positioning himself in the lead with his 13th career 18-hole lead/co-lead.
Kim’s fantastic performance in the tournament’s initial stages showcased his resilience and determination as he aims to continue his success in the FedExCup Playoffs.
-IANS
