Tom Kim ready to hit top gear at Genesis Scottish Open

Tom Kim speaks in a press conference following the Pro-Am prior to the Genesis Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick, Scotland on July 10. [GETTY IMAGES]

Tom Kim likes where his game is at right now, and as in the nature of golf, the timing of it is impeccable.

He wasn’t game-sharp a few months ago but a nine-week grind that led to his best result of the season has proven to be the boost and reinforcement that he needed to ready himself for the business-end of the PGA Tour season.

This week, the 22-year-old Korean star returns to the $9 million Genesis Scottish Open where a solo third in 2022 provided the fuel to a burgeoning career rise where he is now a three-time winner.

“I'm happy with where my game is at,” said Kim ahead of the co-sanctioned DP World Tour and PGA Tour tournament at The Renaissance Club on Wednesday. “This is where it kind of all started for me. I started making a run here in Scotland, and I had a chance last year as well (to finish T6). It's just good vibes. Excited to get going. This is one of the events that I circle at the start of the year and I know I'm going to play.”

He showed he was back to his best at the Travelers Championship a few weeks ago, leading after each of the first three rounds before losing in a playoff to close friend and World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler. At the back of his mind now is to go one better in the upcoming weeks, which include The Open Championship and Paris Olympic Games. And then there’s the FedExCup Playoffs as well where he is currently ranked 41st on the points list.

It isn’t a norm for professional golfers to embark on long, consecutive stretches of travel and tournament play but Kim felt necessary to sharpen his competitive edge. “Obviously the biggest thing was trying to find my game,” he said.

“My thing was, man, I play good at home. Just when I go to tournaments, I'm not sharp. The nine weeks was called for. No matter how much you play at home and you play money games, tournament golf is just very different. I wanted my tournament golf to get sharper. I felt like if I'm sharp competitively, that I can really focus and come out and play again because there's so many variants that come in tournament golf, like wind and lies and pins. You just can't create that at home.”

He does feel at home in Scottish climate and conditions which can showcase four different seasons in a day. A joint runner-up finish at The Open at Royal Liverpool last year where the final round was played under treacherous weather was a sign that Kim is a man for all seasons. More importantly, the Korean knows that mental toughness is vital too to thrive on links golf.

“If you want to be as good as you want to be in the world, you have to come out here and adjust. You can't just play well in the U.S. You have to come out here and prove that you can play. I love playing out here and I love playing in the U.S. I think adjustment-wise, it's really cool,” said Kim.

“Two years ago, I didn't really know what to expect because it's just so new. When the wind is up, you have to be so precise with your landing spots and you have to be so smart. It's not a parkland where you hit driver as far as you can and hit the ball as close as you can. You have to strategize and pick your spots. Those things are so unique, and I think it really test every aspect of your game. That's what I love about the next two weeks.

“Mental toughness comes a lot into play and you have to be okay with tough breaks. You might hit a perfect golf shot and because the wind gusts, you're going to have bad breaks; and to be okay with that. I think people who succeed out here in the wind definitely are good at that, and people who struggle, I think just have a hard time adjusting to that.”

Rory McIlroy will defend his Genesis Scottish Open title this week against a star-studded cast which includes reigning Open champion Brian Harman, Scotsman Robert MacIntyre and PGA champion Xander Schauffele, who was also triumphant at the 2022 Genesis Scottish Open.

BY CHUAH CHOO CHIANG [kjdsports@joongang.co.kr]