Tom Kim to Xander Schauffele over Presidents Cup comments: "I'm so sorry"
South Korean golfer Tom Kim has admitted he apologised to Xander Schauffele and the other U.S. golfers for his comments during the 2024 Presidents Cup.
Tom Kim told reporters in the aftermath of Presidents Cup defeat for the Internationals that he apologised to Xander Schauffele and Team USA captain Jim Furyk for comments he made after their foursomes match.
Kim was involved in several heated exchanges over the weekend at Royal Montreal.
On day one, he was accused of breaching golf etiquette by marching onto the next tee box before Scottie Scheffler even had a chance to putt and tie the hole.
Kim and Scheffler later downplayed the moment, although the 22-year-old South Korean blamed the Internationals' poor start on a home crowd that was, in his view, not loud enough.
He was once again at the centre of attention after losing to Patrick Cantlay and Schauffele in the Saturday foursomes.
Kim's playing partner, Si Woo Kim, came up clutch on the 17th hole when he holed out for birdie to tie the match.
The electric moment sparked wild scenes, with Si Woo Kim running around the green mimicking Steph Curry's 'Night-Night' celebration.
Tom Kim also got annoyed in the early part of their match when a short putt wasn't conceded.
Cantlay had the last laugh though, holing a birdie putt in near darkness to take the point.
Kim responded by saying he had no issue with being goaded, but he felt some U.S. players had crossed the line by 'cursing' at him.
He accused the U.S. team of behaving in an unsporting manner.
Schauffele said he had no idea what Kim was talking about, explaining he and Patty Ice treated their opponents with utmost respect.
Kim told reporters after he tied his Sunday singles match with Sam Burns that he reached out to Schauffele and Furyk amid their celebrations.
According to Golf Channel, Kim was pulled away from Schauffele and Furyk by International captain Mike Weir.
"It was just about my comments yesterday," Kim explained of their exchange.
"I just told him like, hey, I didn't mean it to go in such a negative way. If it did, I just said I'm sorry.
"It was just I felt like what I heard yesterday, some comments that I've heard was at that time, just coming off the green, it came to me so personally and just I felt like it was right to share."
Kim said he didn't think his comments were going to be viewed so negatively.
He added: "I really didn't mean to — because when I played with Patrick and Xander, obviously we've battled a few times and they've always been such great competitors.
"They've never — I've always felt like there's such a good sportsmanship between us.
"It was just outside the ropes, and I felt like that was a little misunderstanding on my part, which I should have explained better.
"So I went to him and I said, I didn't mean it that way. I apologise if it came out wrongly. It was just this and this happened, but if it affected you guys so negatively, I really do apologize. I didn't mean to do it in that way."
Kim contiued:"This event is all about doing things you would never do and creating energy and doing all these things.
"If I — I do certain things on the greens when I make putts, and I expect them to do the same thing. It's all part of the game. It was just about that."
Team USA won the 2024 Presidents Cup 18 ½ - 11 ½.
In two years' time, the contest will head to Medinah.
Chances are that Kim will once again be a talking point.
What did you make of Tom Kim's antics at the Presidents Cup?
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