Tom Kim was one eight-foot birdie putt away from winning the Genesis Championship. However, a near miss and a subsequent bogey on the first playoff hole by the 22-year-old allowed Ben An to swipe the DP World Tour event in South Korea.
Kim congratulated his countryman after the playoff loss but didn’t seem to cool off enough before heading back into the locker room at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea in Incheon. According to JoongAng Daily, Kim slammed the locker room door open damaging it in the process. A photo from Yonhap News shows locker 571 off its hinges when compared to the neighbouring lockers.
🚨😬🇰🇷 #PHOTO — After losing the Genesis Championship in a playoff yesterday, frustrations boiled over for Tim Kim, breaking a locker room door. Kim apologized to the KPGA and has offered to pay for the damage but disciplinary action is also being considered, per @YonhapNews pic.twitter.com/nJvQVQLgX4
— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) October 28, 2024
On Monday, Kim took to Instagram to apologise for his actions and attempt to clear up what happened in the aftermath.
“After the loss I was frustrated, yes absolutely, but I can assure you with absolute truth that I had no intent on damaging any part of the locker not a single bit,” Kim wrote. “I addressed it with the DP World Tour and the KPGA right after the incident saying that the door game off … I also let them know that I was willing to pay all expenses for the damage.”
Regarding Kim’s reference to false reporting, it would appear he is referring to initial reports out of South Korea that noted the KPGA, which co-sanctioned the event with the DP World Tour, was looking into potential disciplinary action.
It’s been an eventful second half of the year for Kim. In September, he was an entertaining spark for the International Presidents Cup team in Montreal with his on-course emotions but also was involved in a controversy when calling out unnamed American golfers for cursing at him during the competition. (He later apologised to U.S. team captain Jim Furyk for his comments.)
Kim also was called out on social media for damaging a TPC Southwind green with his putter during the FedEx St. Jude Championship back in August.
Tom Kim ultimately took home $440,000 for his second-place finish at the Genesis. How much of that had to go paying for the locker door damage is unclear.
Main Image: Han Myung-Gu
