The International team began Saturday play at the 2022 Presidents Cup on the precipice of inglorious defeat. They desperately needed a spark to get back in this thing, and it may have come in the form of rookie and rising superstar Tom Kim.
Kim has seen his fame grow during his breakout year on Tour in 2022, which culminated with his first Tour victory at the Wyndham Championship in August. He’s also been one of the few bright spots on the International side in Quail Hollow this week.
After turning away LIV, Tom Kim is quickly becoming a PGA Tour superstar
Most of the attention, though, has been centered on off-course antics (including funny press conferences and at least two incidents of ripped pants). But on Saturday, Kim started to show off on the course, especially once play reached the back nine in his morning match.
With Kim and partner K.H. Lee 1 down to the fearsome American duo of World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns at the turn, Kim sank a 15-footer for birdie on the par-3 10th to get the match back to all square.
But the real heroics came at 11.
Tom Kim changed 1 piece of gear for good Presidents Cup vibes
Lee drove the green at the short par-4, leaving Kim with a lengthy 33-foot for eagle. Kim hit the putt and watched as it turned from left to right and started tracking directly toward the hole. It dropped in, of course, but Kim didn’t see that part. Before it fell, he had already turned his back on the hole, dropped his putter and raised his arms in the air in celebration, before quickly walking off the hole completely.
His fellow competitors were left standing on the green, and Kim’s caddie was left to gather his red-hot putter as the Internationals took a much-needed 1-up lead in the match. They eventually went on to defeat Scheffler and Burns 2 and 1.
You can watch Kim’s putt below.