Tom Kim’s conceded-putt protest adds to Presidents Cup drama

Presidents Cup Saturday is heating up. What two days ago seemed like it was going to be another American rout has changed drastically over the last 48 hours, as the Internationals have battled back and refused to stand down against the heavily favored Americans.

It’s been fun, too. Tom Kim and Scottie Scheffler added some energy to the event on Thursday, and a fired-up Kim rallied his team on Friday.

And the 22-year-old Kim, who was a key player and emotional leader for the Internationals in his Presidents Cup debut two years ago, was back at it on Saturday.

With the Internationals trailing the U.S. 8-6 after the morning session, Tom and partner Si Woo Kim were 2 down versus Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele through six holes in afternoon foursomes play. Playing the par-3 7th, Tom Kim rolled in a 3-footer to save par and tie the hole, but turns out he wasn’t too pleased he had to putt it in the first place.

After he made the putt, Kim plucked his ball out of the hole and then laid down his putter, the universal sign of are you kidding me — you guys made me putt this? Clearly irked, he looked around, shrugged his shoulders and was still barking about it as he walked off the green.

Cantlay and Schauffele, however, didn’t appear to see Kim, as they had their backs turned.

“They were walking away, but I tell you who wasn’t walking away, he was on the back of the green, was Joe LaCava,” said John Wood, the on-course reporter with that group. “So I think he’ll keep that in his pocket just in case he needs it later on. You don’t need to say anything right now; you keep that in your pocket.”

The putt certainly energized the International duo. Tom Kim made a putt from about 7 feet to tie the Americans on the 8th hole, and on the 9th he rolled in a birdie putt from over 30 feet to cut Cantlay and Schauffele’s lead to 1 up. On the 10th, Si Woo Kim made birdie from the fringe to tie the match.

Cantlay eventually ended the match by draining a 15-footer for birdie on the 18th hole for the 1-up win. The U.S. took the session 3-1 and lead 11-7 heading into Sunday singles.