PGA Tour: South Korean Tom Kim looking to make history as first Asian winner in FedExCup
- Kim, 21, would also be the youngest champion if he claims the US$18 million tour title
- Battling an ankle sprain, he says: ‘I just think if I don’t get pain and hit the ball well, I always have a chance’
South Korea’s Tom Kim tees up in his maiden Tour Championship on Thursday as he chases a slice of golf history, with a chance to become the youngest to lift the FedExCup and Asia’s first winner.
The 21-year-old will be joined by compatriots Im Sung-jae and Kim Si-woo, the first time three South Koreans have qualified for the elite 30-man field, at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta.
The trio will begin the first round on two under and eight strokes back from top-ranked Scottie Scheffler in the staggered-start format based on rankings after last week’s BMW Championship. Scheffler starts at 10 under for the second straight year, followed by last week’s winner Viktor Hovland (eight under), McIlroy (seven under) and Jon Rahm (six under).
A victory for Tom Kim would earn him US$18 million and make him the youngest champion, surpassing Jordan Spieth, who was triumphant at 22 years and two months in 2015.
“I think it’s always possible,” Kim said, despite suffering an ankle sprain last month. “It’s eight strokes off, and there are a lot of great players out there who can win anytime, and I think I’m also in that position. I just think if I don’t get [ankle] pain and hit the ball well, I always have a chance.
“I want to do my best and put everything into this tournament because it’s my last week of the season. I want to play without regrets this week. That is my goal.”
