Tom Kim emerged from a crowded leaderboard Sunday at TPC Summerlin to declare the 2023 Shriners Children’s Open. Getting to 20 below, the South Korean outpaced Adam Hadwin by way of one stroke thank you to take hold of pictures down the stretch. With his triumph, Kim turns into the second one participant to effectively defend a match this season, becoming a member of international No. 1 Scottie Scheffler on the WM Phoenix Open. The 21-year-old additionally turns into the youngest three-time winner at the PGA Tour since Tiger Woods.
Kim’s ultimate victory got here on those Las Vegas grounds a yr in the past. Though he hadn’t returned to the winner’s circle since, Kim’s high quality by no means wavered. He arrived at this yr’s match recent off seven most sensible 25s in a row with a notable runner-up efficiency at The Open on an injured ankle.
“It was a long day,” mentioned Kim. “I really felt confident in myself, and I was playing really well. I knew if I just did me I was going to be able to do it. It’s been a long season, it’s almost a year later and here we are again. I am very fortunate to defend. Glory to the man above for guiding me, and I have learned so much this year and it has been such a blessing and very humbling. I am stoked to get this one for our team.”
A member of Sunday’s ultimate pair along Hadwin, Kim noticed his identify waft from the highest of the leaderboard ahead of he caught a peg within the flooring. With as many as 12 gamers inside of two strokes of the lead, Kim remained affected person and let the golfing route come to him. Three early birdies helped his identify stand up the board, however turbulence arrived quickly after on his entrance 9. Back-to-back dropped pictures on Nos. 5-6 examined his mettle as birdies flew round his head.
With Ludvig Aberg firing a scorching 62 and Eric Cole matching him close to after to post the clubhouse lead at 18 below, participant after participant got here to the par-4 finisher having a look to outdo the 18-under quantity. They all arrived and failed. J.T. Poston, Alex Noren and Taylor Pendrith had been not able to convert makable birdie bids on their 72nd holes.
Kim stuck hearth across the flip with 3 birdies in a five-hole stretch. Hadwin adopted go well with, and the Canadian taking part in spouse unexpectedly was Kim’s deadliest risk. Birdies had been exchanged at the quick par-4 fifteenth, surroundings the level for the deciding second of the match.
With Kim at the placing floor in two at the par-5 sixteenth, Hadwin stepped to his manner and dumped it woefully quick into the water lining the entrance of the golf green. A bogey arrived mins later, and in spite of Kim wanting 3 putts and forfeiting an assumed birdie, his lead had doubled to two. That used to be all Kim wanted over the general two holes, and a few pars allowed for a relaxing walk into the winner’s circle.
“No. 3 sounds a lot better than No. 2,” mentioned Kim. “I feel like after last year after going on such a great run and not feeling exactly myself mid year, it’s been a grind trying to figure it out. It’s obviously my first full season, and I am just trying to live up to the expectations of a great year last year and how can I be better. It’s been tough, it’s been great sometimes, it’s been humbling. No. 3 is so sweet.” Grade: A+
Here are grades for the remainder of the leaderboard on the Shriners Children’s Open.
T3. Eric Cole (-18):Â The former mini excursion legend used to be the primary to post 18 below and held the clubhouse lead for a few hours ahead of he used to be in the end overtaken. Cole’s play in Vegas marked but every other high quality day trip in his rookie season, and a leap forward victory seems to be at the door step. The PGA Tour Rookie of the Year frontrunner now has 8 most sensible 20s and 4 most sensible fives, together with two in his 3 FedEx Cup Fall begins. Grade: A
T13. Ludvig Aberg (-16): A hectic month and a part has come to an finish for the Swedish famous person. Teeing it up in 5 of the ultimate six weeks, Aberg loved a forged stretch that integrated profitable at the DP World Tour, taking part in within the Ryder Cup and dropping in a playoff on the Sanderson Farms Championship. A last-round 62 used to be too little too past due on the Shriners, however Aberg as soon as once more showed his possible is in the course of the roof. He started the FedEx Cup Fall 136th within the season-long race and has already moved himself within the most sensible 100 after simply two outings.Â
“It’s been unbelievable,” mentioned Aberg. “I’ve had the time of my life. I wouldn’t want to change it for anything. But I am a little bit tired. It was really cool for me to go out and play as well as I did today, but yeah, looking forward to a couple of days off.” Grade: A
T18. Cameron Champ (-15): It used to be every other robust appearing from the three-time PGA Tour winner. Champ struggled over the weekend after maintaining the lead at midway level, however he confirmed unravel with six birdies in his ultimate 10 holes to finish his match. Having neglected 17 of 26 cuts this season, Champ is discovering his footing q4. He parlayed his most sensible 10 on the Sanderson Farms Championship to a most sensible 20 on the Shriners Children’s Open. Grade: B+
MC. Si Woo Kim (—): Kim arrived in Las Vegas having simply claimed the gold medal on the Asian Games and thus earned an exemption from necessary army carrier. The just right vibes stopped there. The South Korean used to be an early go out and not rather regarded comfy at TPC Summerlin. The 28-year-old will likely be high quality transferring ahead, however this appearing reeks of sadness making an allowance for his high quality when compared to the remainder of the sector. Grade: F
MC. Lexi Thompson (—): The resolution to lengthen Thompson a sponsor’s exemption used to be an throughout good fortune. She battled difficult in Round 1 and had the golfing international humming when she were given to 4 below via her first 11 holes of her 2nd around. Thompson simply wanted to play her ultimate seven holes in 1 below to make it to the weekend, however she as an alternative again tracked to card a 36-hole overall of even-par 142. The 11-time LPGA winner introduced a ton of consideration to an tournament that can have in a different way been missing it all over this sleepy portion of the agenda.
“It was more energizing,” mentioned Thompson. “Seeing the people out there and hearing the cheers and seeing all the little kids, that’s what I play for. I think I said that on the last hole. A little kid screamed out, go Lexi, you’re great, and that just makes my day. No matter what I’m shooting, I could shoot 80, and they’d be like, you did great. That’s what it’s all about, just inspiring.” Grade: A+Â