Whatever happened on the final day of the Presidents Cup, there was no question that one of the most incredible moments of the week at Royal Montreal came when Si-woo Kim holed the most remarkable chip from the side of the 16th green on Saturday.
The highlight of Saturday’s afternoon matches at the Presidents Cup came in the battle between Si-woo Kim and Tom Kim, and Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele. It was one of the two matches which made it to the 18th, with Cantlay holing an outstanding putt in the fading light to win.
Of course, the two South Koreans need little encouragement to get excited in this event. The golfing world got a taste of their potential at Quail Hollow two years ago, and they were superb for the large majority of Saturday. They won the Internationals’ only point on Saturday morning.
But it did appear to get particularly feisty at times. Tom Kim was unhappy when his putt from inside three feet on the seventh hole was not conceded. Meanwhile, Si-woo Kim sent the Canadian crowd into a frenzy with an outrageous shot on the 16th hole.
Justin Thomas reacts to Si-woo Kim’s celebration at the Presidents Cup
Tom Kim had left him in a desperate position in the thick rough on the upslope by the green. Somehow however, his teammate managed to find the bottom of the cup. Schauffele noted how they were preparing themselves for Kim to get up and down, but did not see him holing out.
Kim celebrated with his own version of Steph Curry’s celebration, sprinting around the green after tying the match with two to play. But clearly, it did not impress everyone. Wyndham Clark came in for criticism for his classless reaction when Cantlay and Schauffele did win.
Justin Thomas meanwhile, was asked about the celebration, and he seemed to suggest that he completely understood why Kim got carried away…
Ridiculous to criticise the South Korean
Any criticism of Kim seems so unfair. Of course, he was made to look a little silly because the match was far from done, and ended up going against the Internationals. But fans want to see that kind of passion in these events.
These tournaments matter to the fans, particularly when so little matchplay is played throughout the year. And it is refreshing – particularly in today’s game – when players are not playing for money, but celebrate moments as if they have just sealed a major.
So here is hoping that there are plenty more celebrations like that from Kim in the coming years as the Presidents Cup definitely needs it.
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