PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – The birdie putt on the seventh hole Sunday was from 24 1/2 feet. When it dropped, Si Woo Kim knew he stood alone atop THE PLAYERS Championship leaderboard. Then something unexpected happened in the pressure-packed environment on one of golf’s most challenging tests. Kim got comfortable. Wait, let’s amend that. Kim – the youngest active player on the PGA TOUR — got comfortable. Comfort is not supposed to be an option, not here, not at TPC Sawgrass, and especially not for 21-year-olds with limited experience in these matters. THE PLAYERS Stadium Course is meant to rattle your cages, test your mettle, fray your nerves. But on a Sunday afternoon when the heat is usually ramped up, Kim became the coolest player on the course. Calm. In control. “Once he got the lead,” said his caddie, Mark Carens, “that was the least pressure he felt.” So for his final 11 holes, while his chasers struggled to keep pace and make him sweat, the Korean-born Kim — who now lives in Dallas, Texas – offered up a steady ship, deftly relying on his scrambling ability to bail him out of any precarious situations. He never stumbled, eventually producing a bogey-free 69 and a 10-under total – good enough to make him the youngest champ in PLAYERS history. The statistic that most reflects his winning round was easy to find: Kim missed 10 greens in regulation, and successfully scrambled each time. “If you are on your game and playing well, that’s the things you do,” said Louis Oosthuizen, his playing partner Sunday. “You up-and-down when you’re in trouble. You don’t give shots away. If you can do that around this golf course, you can outscore everyone. “And he played like someone that was doing it for five or six years, like it was just another round of golf. … Never once did he look flustered.” That’s surprising, given his age. But then, he seems to be a player who’s ahead of the curve. Kim gained his TOUR card through q-school at age 17 1/2 – and then had to wait a half-year before reaching the mandatory age of 18 to play on TOUR. After spending two years on the Web.com Tour, he regained his TOUR card for the 2015-16 season and made a big early impression on his caddie. In his fourth start, he opened with consecutive bogey-free rounds (sound familiar?) en route to a tie for 17th. “It was unbelievable,” Carens said. Then at the Wyndham Championship last August, in just his 23rd start on TOUR, Kim shot a second-round 60 – he missed a 50-foot putt on his final hole for a 59. He eventually won that week in convincing fashion, by five strokes in a final round that seemed eerily familiar to how THE PLAYERS unfolded. Once Kim snagged the lead, he never let it go. He credits the week at Sedgefield with helping him deal with Sunday’s pressure. He said knowing he had a two-year exemption on TOUR freed him up to be more aggressive. (Of course, by winning THE PLAYERS, he now has another five years.) “Because of that experience,” Kim said through his interpreter, “I could be relieved and I could be very stable. I just focused on myself and I didn’t try to think about others’ scores.” There wasn’t much to think about, honestly. Oosthuizen and Ian Poulter supplied the most pressure, both making their biggest moves at the par-5 11th. Oosthuizen eagled the hole to go to 7 under; Poulter birdied it to reach 9 under. But Poulter quickly gave the stroke back on the next hole and Oosthuizen stumbled with consecutive bogeys. Both had the edge on Kim in experience, especially in dealing with intense situations – Oosthuizen’s an Open champ, Poulter’s a Ryder Cup star. But they could not match Kim on Sunday at TPC Sawgrass, instead finishing tied for second. “You have to take your hat off,” Poulter said. “You have to respect some good golf, and that’s exactly what he’s done.” The performance this week speaks for itself, but in some ways, Kim’s win was most unexpected. Consider his Strokes Gained numbers. Ranked 205th on TOUR Off-the-Tee. Ranked 203rd in Approach-the-Green. Ranked 183rd in Putting. Ranked 204th Tee-to-Green. Ranked 203rd Total. His only solid category was Around-the-Green, in which he ranked 41st. The Golf Channel’s Brandel Chamblee called it “perhaps the greatest upset you’ll ever see” going strictly on statistics. Yet, added Chamblee, TPC Sawgrass “puts everybody on edge, pretty much turns it into a scrambling contest – and he won it.” But perhaps we shouldn’t view this win as unexpected. Perhaps Kim is the next great Korean star, following in the footsteps of another PLAYERS champ, K.J. Choi. After all, at age 21, he’s done something that not even his fellow 20-somethings Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy can claim – winning at TPC Sawgrass. Unlike Spieth and McIlroy, though, Kim must one day put his golf career on hold to fulfill the mandatory military service for his country. Considering how he played this week, how bright his future is now, it will be a shame to see him go. Hopefully it won’t happen soon. Plenty of opportunities – big opportunities – await, including the Presidents Cup later this year. The International Team appears to have a new star to lean on. “He’s still young and he was just so calm today,” said Oosthuizen, an International fixture. “He’s going to be great to have as a teammate.” Having just spent 18 holes with the young man, it’s evident Oosthuizen would rather be playing with him than against him.
Kim’s comfortability gets him another victory
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1st Round 3 Balls – J. Dahmen / L. Griffin / K. Chappell | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Joel Dahmen | +110 |
Lanto Griffin | +210 |
Kevin Chappell | +250 |
1st Round 3 Balls – B. Wu / T. Detry / A. Novak | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Andrew Novak | +160 |
Thomas Detry | +160 |
Brandon Wu | +210 |
1st Round 3 Balls – Pierceson Coody / Parker Coody / J. Bridgeman | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Parker Coody | +145 |
Jacob Bridgeman | +150 |
Pierceson Coody | +250 |
1st Round 3 Balls – M. Meissner / R. McCormack / C. Hammer | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Mac Meissner | +140 |
Cole Hammer | +190 |
Ryan McCormick | +200 |
Ford Championship | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Nelly Korda | +900 |
Lydia Ko | +1800 |
Brooke Henderson | +2000 |
Hyo Joo Kim | +2000 |
Minjee Lee | +2000 |
Ruoning Yin | +2200 |
Alison Lee | +2500 |
Ayaka Furue | +2500 |
Celine Boutier | +2500 |
Lilia Vu | +2500 |
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1st Round 3 Balls – D. Skinns / T. Whitney / S. Bennett | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Sam Bennett | +160 |
David Skinns | +180 |
Tom Whitney | +190 |
1st Round 3 Balls – N. Xiong / M. Greyserman / P. Fishburn | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Max Greyserman | +140 |
Norman Xiong | +185 |
Patrick Fishburn | +210 |
1st Round 3 Balls – T. Olesen / J. Highsmith / D. Van Der Walt | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Thorbjorn Olesen | +105 |
Joe Highsmith | +180 |
Dawie Van Der Walt | +300 |
Tournament Match-Up – T. Olesen vs B. Horschel | |
Type: Tournament Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Billy Horschel | -145 |
Thorbjorn Olesen | +110 |
1st Round 3 Balls – L. Maguire / X. Lin / B. Tardy | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Xiyu Lin | +130 |
Leona Maguire | +160 |
Bailey Tardy | +260 |
1st Round 3 Balls – M. Lee / B. Henderson / R. Yin | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Brooke Henderson | +170 |
Minjee Lee | +175 |
Ruoning Yin | +180 |
1st Round 3 Balls – C. Hull / L. Thompson / A. Lee | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Alison Lee | +145 |
Charley Hull | +160 |
Lexi Thompson | +230 |
1st Round 3 Balls – B. Cauley / D. Lipsky / R. Sloan | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Bud Cauley | +135 |
David Lipsky | +185 |
Roger Sloan | +220 |
1st Round 3 Balls – R. Palmer / M. Kim / B. Taylor | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Michael Kim | +130 |
Ryan Palmer | +160 |
Ben Taylor | +260 |
1st Round Match-Up – M. Kim v J. Suh | |
Type: 1st Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Michael Kim | -125 |
Justin Suh | +105 |
1st Round 3 Balls – J. Bramlett / D. Thompson / S. Gutschewski | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Davis Thompson | +125 |
Joseph Bramlett | +135 |
Scott Gutschewski | +350 |
1st Round 3 Balls – H. Norlander / J. Suh / C. Yuan | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Carl Yuan | +160 |
Justin Suh | +160 |
Henrik Norlander | +200 |
Tournament Match-Up – J. Suh v C. Yuan | |
Type: Tournament Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Justin Suh | -120 |
Carl Yuan | -110 |
1st Round Match-Up – D. Thompson v D. Berger | |
Type: 1st Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Davis Thompson | -125 |
Daniel Berger | +105 |
1st Round Match-Up – J. Bramlett v V. Whaley | |
Type: 1st Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Joseph Bramlett | -135 |
Vince Whaley | +115 |
1st Round 3 Balls – P. Kizzire / R. Moore / C. Tarren | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Ryan Moore | +130 |
Patton Kizzire | +190 |
Callum Tarren | +220 |
1st Round 3 Balls – M. Trainer / V. Whaley / M. Schmid | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Matti Schmid | +150 |
Vince Whaley | +175 |
Martin Trainer | +200 |
1st Round 3 Balls – D. Berger / J.B. Holmes / S. Stallings | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Scott Stallings | +125 |
Daniel Berger | +130 |
J B Holmes | +375 |
1st Round 3 Balls – W. Clark / T. Finau / S. Woo Kim | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Wyndham Clark | +135 |
Tony Finau | +190 |
Si Woo Kim | +200 |
1st Round Match-Up – W. Clark vs S. Theegala | |
Type: 1st Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Sahith Theegala | -120 |
Wyndham Clark | +100 |
1st Round Match-Up – J. Day vs T. Finau | |
Type: 1st Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Jason Day | -110 |
Tony Finau | -110 |
1st Round Match-Up – S.W. Kim vs A. Noren | |
Type: 1st Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Si Woo Kim | -120 |
Alex Noren | +100 |
1st Round 3 Balls – V. Norrman / D. Riley / C. Ramey | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Vincent Norrman | +160 |
Chad Ramey | +180 |
Davis Riley | +180 |
1st Round 3 Balls – S. Theegala / J. Day / P. Harrington | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Sahith Theegala | +120 |
Jason Day | +135 |
Padraig Harrington | +375 |
Tournament Match-Up – S. Theegala vs J. Day | |
Type: Tournament Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Sahith Theegala | -145 |
Jason Day | +110 |
1st Round Match-Up – A. Smalley v V. Norrman | |
Type: 1st Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Alex Smalley | -110 |
Vincent Norrman | -110 |
1st Round 3 Balls – M. Hughes / B. Horschel / T. Hoge | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Mackenzie Hughes | +170 |
Tom Hoge | +170 |
Billy Horschel | +185 |
1st Round 3 Balls – K. Kitayama / J.J. Spaun / C. Champ | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Kurt Kitayama | +130 |
Cameron Champ | +180 |
J J Spaun | +240 |
1st Round Match-Up – T. Hoge vs K. Kitayama | |
Type: 1st Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Kurt Kitayama | -110 |
Tom Hoge | -110 |
1st Round Match-Up – P. Rodgers vs M. Hughes | |
Type: 1st Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Mackenzie Hughes | -110 |
Patrick Rodgers | -110 |
1st Round 3 Balls – H. Buckley / R. Shelton / T. Alexander | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Robby Shelton | +160 |
Tyson Alexander | +175 |
Hayden Buckley | +190 |
1st Round 3 Balls – J. Walker / P. Rodgers / A. Smalley | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Patrick Rodgers | +115 |
Alex Smalley | +170 |
Jimmy Walker | +280 |
1st Round 3 Balls – N. Lashley / S. Ryder / Z. Blair | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Sam Ryder | +145 |
Nate Lashley | +160 |
Zac Blair | +230 |
1st Round 3 Balls – A. Long / J. Vegas / A. Noren | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Alex Noren | +100 |
Jhonattan Vegas | +230 |
Adam Long | +260 |
1st Round Match-Up – B. Silverman v N. Lashley | |
Type: 1st Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Nate Lashley | -115 |
Ben Silverman | -105 |
1st Round 3 Balls – C. Phillips / C. Gotterup / H. Springer | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Chandler Phillips | +160 |
Chris Gotterup | +170 |
Hayden Springer | +190 |
1st Round 3 Balls – B. Silverman / P. Barjon / K. Ventura | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Ben Silverman | +115 |
Paul Barjon | +210 |
Kris Ventura | +230 |
Tournament Match-Up – B. Silverman vs C. Gotterup | |
Type: Tournament Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Ben Silverman | -115 |
Chris Gotterup | -115 |
1st Round Match-Up – C. Phillips v C. Gotterup | |
Type: 1st Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Chris Gotterup | -115 |
Chandler Phillips | -105 |
1st Round 3 Balls – E. Barnes / T. Crowe / W. Furr | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Erik Barnes | +145 |
Trace Crowe | +185 |
Wilson Furr | +200 |
1st Round 3 Balls – N. Lindheim / A. Dumont De Chassart / K. Dougherty | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Adrien Dumont de Chassart | +175 |
Kevin Dougherty | +175 |
Nicholas Lindheim | +175 |
1st Round 3 Balls – E. Gonzalez / H. Endycott / V. Perez | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Victor Perez | +120 |
Harrison Endycott | +185 |
Emilio Gonzalez | +250 |
1st Round 3 Balls – R. MacIntyre / R. Campos / R. Pereda | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Robert MacIntyre | +110 |
Rafael Campos | +170 |
Raul Pereda | +320 |
1st Round Match-Up – V. Perez v R. MacIntyre | |
Type: 1st Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Victor Perez | -115 |
Robert MacIntyre | -105 |
1st Round 3 Balls – J. Campillo / R. Hoey / R. Gibson | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Jorge Campillo | +140 |
Rico Hoey | +140 |
Rhein Gibson | +275 |
1st Round 3 Balls – A. Nordqvist / A Lim Kim / Y. Saso | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Yuka Saso | +130 |
A Lim Kim | +170 |
Anna Nordqvist | +250 |
1st Round 3 Balls – M. Stark / J. Kupcho / J. Shin | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Jenny Shin | +130 |
Maja Stark | +200 |
Jennifer Kupcho | +210 |
1st Round 3 Balls – L. Vu / N. Hataoka / A. Furue | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Ayaka Furue | +170 |
Lilia Vu | +175 |
Nasa Hataoka | +180 |
1st Round 3 Balls – N. Korda / C. Boutier / L. Ko | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Nelly Korda | +130 |
Lydia Ko | +190 |
Celine Boutier | +220 |
1st Round 3 Balls – L. Grant / H.J. Kim / R. Zhang | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Hyo Joo Kim | +170 |
Linn Grant | +175 |
Rose Zhang | +180 |
2nd Round Match-Up – S. Bairstow v A Fitzpatrick | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Sam Bairstow | -115 |
Alex Fitzpatrick | -105 |
2nd Round Match-Up – J. Luiten v R. Cabrera Bello | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Joost Luiten | -120 |
Rafa Cabrera Bello | -110 |
2nd Round Match-Up – J. Veerman v M. Kieffer | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Johannes Veerman | -115 |
Maximillian Kieffer | -115 |
2nd Round Match-Up – J. Morrison v T. Lewis | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
James Morrison | -115 |
Tom Lewis | -115 |
2nd Round Match-Up – M. Kawamura v A. Sullivan | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Andy Sullivan | -120 |
Masahiro Kawamura | -110 |
2nd Round Match-Up – C. Jarvis v M. Penge | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Casey Jarvis | -115 |
Marco Penge | -115 |
2nd Round Match-Up – B. Stone v G. Migliozzi | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Brandon Stone | -115 |
Guido Migliozzi | -115 |
2nd Round Match-Up – S. Sharma v A. Otaegui | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Adrian Otaegui | -120 |
Shubankar Sharma | -110 |
The Galleri Classic | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Steve Stricker | +350 |
Steven Alker | +650 |
Miguel Angel Jimenez | +1100 |
Jerry Kelly | +1200 |
Stephen Ames | +1400 |
Ernie Els | +1600 |
Alex Cejka | +1800 |
Brian Gay | +2000 |
KJ Choi | +2500 |
Kevin Sutherland | +2500 |
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Major Specials 2024 | |
Type: To Win A Major 2024 – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +125 |
Jon Rahm | +225 |
Rory McIlroy | +225 |
Viktor Hovland | +225 |
Brooks Koepka | +350 |
Ludvig Aberg | +350 |
Patrick Cantlay | +400 |
Collin Morikawa | +450 |
Justin Thomas | +450 |
Wyndham Clark | +450 |
Click here for more… | |
The Masters 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +450 |
Rory McIlroy | +1100 |
Jon Rahm | +1200 |
Brooks Koepka | +1800 |
Jordan Spieth | +2000 |
Xander Schauffele | +2000 |
Hideki Matsuyama | +2500 |
Joaquin Niemann | +2500 |
Justin Thomas | +2500 |
Ludvig Aberg | +2500 |
Click here for more… | |
PGA Championship 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +700 |
Jon Rahm | +1000 |
Rory McIlroy | +1000 |
Viktor Hovland | +1400 |
Brooks Koepka | +1600 |
Bryson DeChambeau | +2000 |
Patrick Cantlay | +2000 |
Wyndham Clark | +2000 |
Xander Schauffele | +2000 |
Cameron Smith | +2500 |
Click here for more… | |
US Open 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +700 |
Rory McIlroy | +800 |
Jon Rahm | +900 |
Viktor Hovland | +1000 |
Cameron Smith | +1600 |
Brooks Koepka | +1800 |
Cameron Young | +2000 |
Collin Morikawa | +2000 |
Ludvig Aberg | +2000 |
Patrick Cantlay | +2000 |
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The Open Championship 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +800 |
Jon Rahm | +1000 |
Rory McIlroy | +1000 |
Viktor Hovland | +1100 |
Brooks Koepka | +2000 |
Cameron Smith | +2000 |
Cameron Young | +2000 |
Collin Morikawa | +2000 |
Jordan Spieth | +2500 |
Ludvig Aberg | +2500 |
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Solheim Cup 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
USA | -140 |
Europe | +135 |
Tie | +1200 |
Ryder Cup 2025 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
USA | -135 |
Europe | +135 |
Tie | +1000 |