Following his remarks about the American team “cursing at us” during the Presidents Cup on Saturday, International team standout Tom Kim ensured that he addressed any misunderstandings with U.S. captain Jim Furyk and player Xander Schauffele after concluding his Sunday singles match against Sam Burns at Royal Montreal.
Kim concluded the week with a record of 1-2-1 and participated in a tense Sunday afternoon foursomes match against prominent U.S. players Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay. His partner, Si Woo Kim, executed a remarkable chip-in birdie at the par-3 16th hole, subsequently celebrating with a gesture reminiscent of his favorite NBA player, Stephen Curry’s, well-known “night night” move. However, this celebration was somewhat misplaced, as the match had only just been tied, with two holes remaining.
Regrettably for the Kim duo, they lost the 18th hole after halving the 17th with a birdie from Cantlay, rendering the “night night” celebration somewhat inappropriate in hindsight. Some members of the U.S. team, notably Wyndham Clark, appeared to be offended by the gesture. Clark was observed mimicking the celebration after Cantlay and Schauffele secured the victory, which led to a social media dispute with International team member Byeong Hun An.
Tom Kim shared his thoughts on Saturday night, saying, “As we approached the end, things got a bit intense out there. I could hear some players directing some choice words at us. That didn’t really feel like good sportsmanship to me, but I get that it’s all part of the game and the excitement.”
He mentioned that he enjoyed expressing his emotions during the match, but he felt the Americans went a bit too far. However, he didn’t specify what was said or who said it.
“I was out there celebrating with fist pumps and jumping on the green,” he continued. “I understand the passion, but I just don’t think it’s necessary to look at someone and use foul language. It’s just not needed.”
Kim expressed that he did not intend for his remarks to be perceived negatively; however, they attracted significant criticism on social media. On Sunday, he made a concerted effort to approach Furyk and Schauffele to clarify the intent behind his comments, subsequently sharing the details of their conversation during the International team’s press conference following the Presidents Cup.
“I conveyed to him [Schauffele] that my intention was not to convey negativity,” Kim stated. “If it was interpreted that way, I sincerely apologize. My feelings were influenced by certain remarks I heard the previous day, which resonated with me personally as I was leaving the green, and I felt compelled to express my thoughts.”
I honestly didn’t realize at the time how negative it would come across. I truly didn’t intend for it to be that way. When I played with Patrick and Xander, we’ve had our fair share of matches, and they’ve always been such fantastic competitors. There’s always been a great sense of sportsmanship among us. The misunderstanding happened outside the game, and I should have communicated my thoughts more clearly. I approached him afterward and explained that I didn’t mean it in that manner. I apologized if my words were misinterpreted. I just wanted to clarify what happened, and if it affected you both negatively, I sincerely apologize. That was never my intention.
This event is all about stepping out of your comfort zone and generating excitement. I have my own rituals on the greens when I sink putts, and I expect others to embrace that energy too. It’s all part of the fun of the game. That was really the essence of it.
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