Tom Kim asked if he started thinking about making a 59 towards the end of his third round at the Hero World Challenge

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Tom Kim has brought himself right back into contention at the Hero World Challenge, as he posted the lowest round of the week during the third round in the Bahamas.

Many would have expected the Hero World Challenge to become something of a procession. Scottie Scheffler hit the front of the pack after the second round as he posted a 64. Justin Thomas even expressed his surprise that Scheffler did not go lower on Friday.

Thomas would capitalise on Scheffler not being as ruthless as he perhaps could have been. The 31-year-old’s impressive 66 moved him to the top of the leaderboard ahead of the final round.

But Tom Kim came close to making history at Albany. The 22-year-old shot a 62 after making 12 birdies during the third round. Remarkably, he holed out from the bunker besides the 18th green to come within one shot of matching Rickie Fowler‘s record for the lowest 18 hole score in the event.

Tom Kim asked if he thought about posting 59 at the Hero World Challenge

Unfortunately for Kim, a double bogey on 17 put paid to his hopes of breaking 60. A birdie on the penultimate hole of the day would have been enough to post the magical 59. But speaking to Golf Channel after his round, Kim insisted that the landmark did not cross his mind as he came towards the end of his round.

“No, not at all. 17, 18’s a tough finish like straight into the wind. Again, it’s just not the two easiest of holes. When you have that day going, I don’t think you try to – unless you have two par 5s coming up, a really easy par 5,” he said.

“I think everyone’s a little different and for me I just struggled with my spin numbers. My spin numbers were coming out a little different than usual. So paid a lot of attention after the round and just put that in play yesterday and automatically I saw some results and I just kind of did the same thing and just seems to be paying off a little bit.”

The lowest rounds of the week at the Hero World Challenge

Kim found himself seven shots behind Scheffler after the opening round – and that gap extended by a further shot at the halfway stage. So he has done incredibly to bring himself back into the tournament. Certainly, the momentum appears to be with him.

The South Korean is the only player who has posted a score of lower than 64 this week. It just acts as a reminder of his outrageous potential when his game comes together.

Obviously, it is a small field. But Scheffler showed in 2023 how winning the Hero can provide the perfect springboard ahead of the PGA Tour season.

Kim is one of those players who certainly needs a much stronger year after 2024. His performance this week hints that he is ready to remind everyone just how good he can be.