One of the biggest sub-plots of this week’s Men’s Golf Competition in Paris revolved around Tom Kim, the 22-year-old South Korean who has skyrocketed in popularity thanks to his infectious personality.
But the subplot quickly turned into an unusual situation, something most people will fortunately never have to experience. All able-bodied South Korean males must serve 21 months in the military before they turn 35. To avoid this stint in the service, an athlete must win a medal at the Olympics, something Kim strived to do this week in Paris. But he came up four shots short of a bronze medal, finishing at 13-under overall to post a solo eighth finish.
That led Kim to tear up in the scoring tent after.
“Never been really emotional after a round,” Kim said after his 3-under 68 on Sunday.
“I think these emotions are surprising, but I think it’s just all the hard work I’ve done this year to put myself in this position, those things are coming out. Just the things Scottie [Scheffler] said to me after the round really kind of came out, and I’m just trying to hold it together.”
Kim did not disclose specifics about what Scheffler offered, but rest assured that his words carried tremendous weight, likely with a heavy dose of support.
“He’s a really good buddy of mine,” Kim said of Scheffler, who won the gold medal and played with Kim on Sunday.
“We are probably going to play some golf again next week. He understands what I’ve gone through. Just those things and a friend to say something like that after what he did, it means a lot.”
Scheffler is more like an older brother to Kim, as the two players actually share the same birthday. Every year, often around the Travelers Championship in Connecticut, the two-star golfers celebrate with a night out at dinner. This year, Kim and Scheffler, as well as Sam Burns, visited Sally’s Apizza in New Haven, a world-famous pizzeria that Kim raved about. Then, a few days later, Kim lost to Scheffler in a close playoff at TPC River Highlands but proved to the world that he has no fear in his game and can contend among the very best.
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Similar sentiments can be said about Kim’s play this week. He got off to a roaring start at Le Golf National on Sunday, making four birdies on the front nine to go out with a 4-under 32. But a three-putt from 14 feet on the par-3 11th stalled his momentum, and a double-bogey six on the final hole relegated him back to 13-under for the championship, well short of the goal he had set for himself in Paris.
But he no doubt achieved one of the objectives he set for himself earlier this season just by getting to Paris in the first place.
“I was struggling earlier this year, and I really wanted to make it to the Olympics,” Kim explained.
“Once that decision was made, it was almost like a huge burden came off my shoulders. Then performing at the Olympics came on, and these last two weeks have been brutal trying to prepare, and just staying ahead. Then once the round finishes, everything is done and done. I think the emotions that I’ve held in this year came out.”
Luckily for Kim, he does not have to report straight for duty soon. He will have another opportunity to capture a medal at Riviera in 2028, when Los Angeles will host the Summer Olympics. But the young South Korean also did not think about the required service he owes his country on Sunday. Instead, he thought about the importance of representing his homeland, which seemingly every athlete felt this week in Paris.
“I wasn’t really thinking about that at all,” Kim said when asked about the military.
“Just try and make a medal for my country and not myself.”
Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThrough for more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko as well.
