Tom Kim has been in the spotlight lately, but not always for the reasons he'd prefer. Following a crushing playoff loss to fellow South Korean Byeong Hun An at the Genesis Championship, Kim took to Instagram to apologize for accidentally damaging a locker door in the aftermath of the match.
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The 21-year-old phenom, clearly gutted after his close call with victory, explained that he didn't intend for the door to come off its hinges and immediately offered to cover the costs for repairs. Both the DP World Tour and Korean PGA Tour accepted his apology, effectively putting the issue to bed without any sanctions.
"After the loss I was frustrated, yes, absolutely," Kim said in a statement. "[B]ut I can assure you with absolute truth that I had no intent of damaging any part of the locker, not a single bit."
Here's what went down: Kim missed an 8-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole that would've sealed the tournament. Instead, he found himself in a playoff, where a misfire on his third shot led to a bogey on the par-5 18th.
Meanwhile, An, who drained an 8-footer to force the playoff, showed no mercy, sinking another birdie to clinch his second DP World Tour win. Afterward, Kim didn't hide his disappointment, admitting that frustration got the best of him.
"I addressed it with the [DP World Tour] and the KPGA right after the incident saying that the door came off," Kim said. "We had to fully pull it out due to safety reasons. I also let them know that I was willing to pay all expenses for the damage."
This marks the second time in under a month that Kim has had to issue a public apology. Just weeks ago at the Presidents Cup, he found himself backtracking after telling reporters that members of the U.S. team, who defeated the Internationals 18½-11½, had been swearing at him and his partner Si Woo Kim during a foursomes match.
Kim later sought out U.S. captain Jim Furyk and two-time major champ Xander Schauffele to clear the air, apologizing for what he called a "miscommunication."
Kim is young and hungry, and his passion is clear. But in the spotlight, those emotions can be a double-edged sword. He's got the talent and drive to be a star, no question. The challenge now will be channeling that intensity in a way that keeps him in the headlines for what he does on the course — rather than what happens in the locker room afterward.
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