Tom Kim Criticized for Breaking ‘Unwritten’ PGA Tour Rule During FedEx Cup Playoffs
Tom Kim faced backlash during the FedEx St. Jude Championship after breaking one of golf’s unwritten rules during the final round on Sunday. The 22-year-old South Korean golfer’s frustrations boiled over as he slammed his putter into the green after missing a putt, drawing criticism from fans.
Kim struggled throughout the tournament, finishing at one-under-par, 16 shots behind the winner, Hideki Matsuyama, and tying for 50th place. Despite showing promise during the final 18 holes at TPC Southwind, his performance fell apart towards the end.
On Sunday, Kim started strong, playing the first 15 holes at four-under-par without any bogeys and making four birdies along the way. This effort seemed to secure his spot in the next playoff event, the BMW Championship.
However, his final three holes were disastrous, with a bogey and two double bogeys, resulting in an unfortunate finish of six, six, six. Even before his late collapse, Kim’s temper flared after missing a birdie putt on the 12th hole. Frustrated, he struck his putter into the green, leaving a small divot near the hole. Kim quickly made par and left the green, but the damage was done.
The golfing community reacted strongly on social media, with many fans expressing their disappointment. One fan on X called for a penalty, tweeting, “He should be penalized.” Others chimed in, with comments like “Do that and you’re done. Go home,” and “Deserves a fine.” Another fan lamented, “Golf is a game of etiquette; hate to see it.”
Although it appeared that Kim didn’t immediately repair the divot, reports suggest that his caddie later fixed the mark. Despite this, Kim managed to regain his composure briefly, birdieing the 13th hole soon after the incident.
Unfortunately, his round and season unraveled further. At the par-five 16th hole, Kim found the bunker twice and finished with a disappointing six after a two-putt. His frustration continued to mount, and on the next hole, he made another double bogey after two poor approach shots and a three-putt.
Kim’s final blunder came on the 18th hole when his tee shot failed to clear a water hazard. After taking a penalty drop, he missed the green, chipped on, and two-putted, ending his round with a one-over-par 71. These costly mistakes ultimately caused him to miss out on one of the 50 spots available at the BMW Championship, the penultimate event of the PGA Tour season.