Tom Kim to Xander Schauffele over Presidents Cup comments: “I’m so sorry”

South Korean golfer Tom Kim has revealed that he apologized to Xander Schauffele and the U.S. team after making comments during the 2024 Presidents Cup that stirred controversy.

Following the Internationals’ defeat at Royal Montreal, Kim reached out to Schauffele and Team USA captain Jim Furyk to clarify his remarks. Kim had been at the center of several heated exchanges throughout the event.

On the first day, Kim faced criticism for what some viewed as a breach of golf etiquette when he moved onto the next tee box before Scottie Scheffler had finished putting to tie the hole. Both Kim and Scheffler later downplayed the incident, but Kim expressed disappointment with the Internationals’ sluggish start, blaming the lack of enthusiasm from the home crowd.

Kim found himself in the spotlight again during the Saturday foursomes match, where he and partner Si Woo Kim were up against Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele. Si Woo Kim delivered a clutch performance, holing out for birdie on the 16th hole to tie the match. His celebration, mimicking Steph Curry’s ‘Night-Night’ gesture, caused a stir. Earlier in the match, Tom Kim had been frustrated when a short putt wasn’t conceded, heightening tensions.

Despite the electric atmosphere, Cantlay had the final say, sinking a birdie putt in near-darkness to win the point for Team USA. After the match, Kim expressed frustration, accusing some U.S. players of unsportsmanlike behavior, including cursing at him. Schauffele, however, denied any such incident, insisting that he and Cantlay had treated their opponents with respect.

Following his Sunday singles match, where he tied with Sam Burns, Kim approached Schauffele and Furyk amid the U.S. team’s celebrations. According to reports, International captain Mike Weir had to pull Kim away from the exchange.

Kim explained to reporters that he apologized for how his earlier comments were perceived. “It was just about my comments yesterday,” Kim said. “I told them I didn’t intend for my remarks to be taken in such a negative way. If they were, I’m sorry.”

He added that his initial reaction stemmed from hearing certain comments that affected him personally. “Coming off the green, I felt like I needed to share my feelings,” Kim admitted. “But I didn’t think my comments would be seen as so negative.”

Kim clarified that he holds great respect for both Schauffele and Cantlay, having faced them in competition before. He noted that there had always been a sense of good sportsmanship between them. The misunderstanding, according to Kim, occurred outside the ropes, and he wanted to make sure that his intentions were understood.

In his apology, Kim emphasized that he hadn’t meant to offend anyone. “I went to them and said, ‘I didn’t mean it that way. I apologize if it came out wrong. If it affected you negatively, I’m really sorry. That wasn’t my intention.'”

Reflecting on the Presidents Cup, Kim explained that the intensity of the event often leads to heightened emotions. “This event is all about creating energy and doing things you might not normally do,” he said. “When I make putts, I celebrate, and I expect my opponents to do the same. It’s all part of the game.”

Team USA ultimately won the 2024 Presidents Cup with a score of 18 ½ to 11 ½. The next edition of the competition will be held at Medinah in two years, where Tom Kim is likely to be a key figure once again.