Tom Kim clocked up a number of firsts after his short par putt on the packed 18th green at The Renaissance Club in East Lothian disappeared into the cup.
It was the 24-year-old’s first DP World Tour win and his first Rolex Series title in his 27th start.
What’s more, he is the first South Korean to win the Genesis Scottish Open, and his fourth PGA TOUR victory, following wins in the 2022 and 2023 Shriners Children’s Open, and the Wyndham Championship in 2022, a good year.
Overall, he is the 15th South Korean to win on the DP World Tour, and the enormity of the occasion finally hit the player in the card verification unit. He had coped admirably with a tricky and chilly east wind during his final round.
The win makes a remarkable comeback for the talented player. Recently, he slipped to 150th in the world after being world No 11 at one time earlier in his career, but he finished third in the US Open in mid-June at Shinnecock Hills.
Today, he completed the 7,000-plus, par 70 course near North Berwick in six-under on the final day of a championship which broke all previous crowd records and his 17-under score was compiled with rounds of 65, 66 and 68 with an incredible 64 to finish the championship.
Kim’s nearest challenger was Aussie professional, Min Woo Lee, who carded a 67 today to finish on 15-under.
Robert Mcintyre, Scotland’s top hope, was two shots further back after carding a round of one-under, and his disappointment showed.
Three other players tied for third, Japanese-born, Keita Nakajima and 25-year-old, former American college star, Johnny Keefer, plus Sheffield-born, Matt Fitzpatrick, the world No 4.
Rory McIlroy, whose score of 73 on day three after carding 65 and 66 in his two previous rounds, put him six shots back. Typically, he charged to minus 12 by posting a score of 64 in the final round and waited in the clubhouse to see if the figure would be enough to secure a second Scottish open title. It wasn’t.
Ice cool Kim, played one of his best shots of the round on the 16th as the pressure mounted in the closing holes, putting his second on the 423 yard 16th to within two feet of the pin. He smiled, and no wonder. Minutes later, he stood over the putt. He took his time and then the putter went back and through. The ball fell out of sight for minus 17 and a two-shot advantage over Lee.
The South Korean told DP World Tour TV: “I played as good as I could down the stretch with the pressure and I am proud of myself. This is awesome.”
The second shot at 16 he felt was one of the best shots he has played in his professional golf career and he added: “There were a lot of key moments and one of the best shots I hit was on the second hole, a 190-yard, 2-iron to seven feet.
“I did not make birdie, but that kind of put a lot of confidence in me.”
He modestly said he tries to get better each day after learning a lot about himself when sliding down the rankings, and he now moves on to The Open at Birkdale this week.
It was when Lee failed with his birdie attempt at the short 15th that it began to look good for Kim.
The South Korean kept his composure as he stood on the 193-yard, 17th. He took several practice swings at the back of the tee, studied the target and stepped forward purposefully. He paused, looked at the target again and sent the ball into the heart of the green. What pressure?
The picnic tables to the side of the green were emptied as Kim walked towards the green. The fans watched, quietly. Kim pondered then drew his putter back. The ball trundled towards the hole but stopped rolling to the side, inches away. A missed opportunity and one which could have closed the door on the rest.
On to the final hole and Kim sent his drive down the middle. He had 155 yards to go to the flag and he took his time. The ball flew and landed perilously close to the right-hand bunker but it skirted that and ran on and over the back.
It nestled in light rough, inches from the apron, two practice swings and then the ball flew towards the hole. Six-feet to a record a par and potential glory and it did not appear to the naked eye as if there was much movement on the put.
Ball cleaned and after a good look, Kim was leaving nothing to chance. Touch of the left hand onto the right arm, a pause in it went. A par and secure at minus-17. A fist pump from Kim and an embrace from David Brooker.
Just behind, on 17, Lee still had a slim chance. He fired the ball behind the pin. Lee then marched to the green and surveyed his birdie putt. It stopped inches short, more frustration.
At 18, Lee, on 15-under, had 164 yards left and he failed with his approach which had to go in. He finished with a par. Kim was the champion and a Rolex winner. There was nothing anybody could now do to deny him. The drama ended here.
MacIntyre did excite the remaining fans on the final hole. He drove smack, bang down the middle of the fairway, before sending his approach to a few feet. He missed for a birdie, the crowd let out a sigh. They had high hopes after MacIntyre carded rounds of 67, 66 and 65 for 12-under and a tie for the lead going into the final round. He’ll have to wait to next year to see if he can win the title again.
So, Kim is the Genisis Scottish Open champion, and he moves on. Can he now go on to win The Open? The first round is on Thursday and he is in form.
CONCENTRATION: Tom Kim on his way to victory surveying a long putt on the 14th. Picture Nigel Duncan
