How Michael Kim performed during first day in India after visa issues and no practice round

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Michael Kim’s preparation for the DP World India Championship this week was far from ideal.

He announced on social media on Wednesday that he had experienced some “visa issues” that delayed his flight from Japan to India.

Kim did not arrive in New Delhi until Wednesday evening and had no time to play any practice rounds before the tournament.

Here is how the American performed in the first round of the DP World India Championship, considering his issues. 

• READ MORE: How Viktor Hovland got on in India during first competitive round since Ryder Cup neck injury

Michael Kim’s impressive first round at the DP World India Championship

Michael Kim teed off alongside Dylan Naidoo and Manu Gandas at 7:45 am local time on Thursday morning.

While both of his playing partners struggled, Kim produced one of the better rounds on the first day of the tournament.

His four-under-par 68 at Delhi GC put him comfortably in the top 10 and only three shots behind the leader, Keita Nakajima.

Kim even outperformed Rory McIlroy (-3) and Viktor Hovland (-1) despite his lack of preparation.

Not to take anything away from the 32-year-old’s impressive start, but the golf course is not particularly difficult to navigate.

McIlroy even admitted that he would not use his driver in India because the relatively short course is all about finding the fairways and greens with less club.

Michael Kim’s expectations for the 2026 season

Kim has set himself two targets for next year following an impressive 2025 season on the PGA and DP World Tours.

He finished in the top five at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the top 30 at The Masters, but his best performance was his victory at the Open de France.

Kim now wants to represent the United States at the Presidents Cup and reach the season-ending Tour Championship on the PGA Tour. 

“It’s awesome, it’s been awesome, but you know, golf and the PGA Tour does an awesome job of always having a new carrot dangling,” he said. “Last year, I wanted to be top 50 to play in the signature events for next year.

“But now, after watching the US lose at the Ryder Cup, I really want to play and feel I’m in a spot with my game to actually contend to be on one of those teams. So next year, trying to make the Presidents Cup is a carrot there that I really want to make.

“I finished 31st, so the Tour Championship is the next carrot for me. So it’s awesome that I’ve moved along this much in my career, and hopefully I can keep it going.”