Korean Tom Kim delights title sponsor with Genesis Scottish Open win and reveals text from Tiger

Chris Gotterup, the world 158 at the time, might have sprung something of a surprise when he claimed the coveted crown at The Renaissance Club in 2025, but the American used that as a springboard to become a world top-ten player.

All that was missing really for the title sponsor was a Korean winner and now they’ve got it. Tom Kim, who finished third on his debut in the Rolex Series event in 2022, is the new champion and a worthy one at that.

Bob MacIntyre, the 2024 winner, had the home fans roaring as he rolled in a birdie putt at the par-5 opening hole in the final round on the East Lothian coast to move into the outright lead after starting out in share of top spot with Matthew Fitzpatrick and Min Woo Lee.

Two three-putt bogeys in the space of three holes, though, took the wind out of the Oban man’s sails and, though an eagle at the 12th raised another big cheer before he also birdied the 14th and par-3 17th, he had to settle for a share of third on this occasion.

It wasn’t what he’d have been looking for after following opening efforts of 67-66 with a 65 as the weather-hit third round was completed early on Sunday morning. Nonetheless, though, MacIntyre’s game looks in good shape as he heads for Royal Birkdale to tee up in The 154th Open.

The Scot’s bogey at the fourth - his first dropped shot in 24 holes - was followed by another sloppy one two holes later. The latter opened the door for Kim to become the solo leader and, in truth, the 24-year-old never looked like being caught.

Picking up birdies at the first, fourth, seventh, tenth, 11th and 16th holes on the Tom Doak-designed course, Kim signed off with a 64, which was the best score of the day, matching earlier efforts from McIlroy and Viktor Hovland. It was the sole bogey-free effort as well.

Finishing with a 17-under-par total, the Dallas-based player won by two shots from 2021 winner Lee, with MacIntyre, Matt Fitzpatrick, Japan’s Keita Nakajima and American Johnny Keefer all sharing third spot on 13 under, one ahead of McIlroy.

Kim landed his maiden PGA Tour win in the 2022 Wyndham Championship. He quickly added the Shriners Children’s Open before landing that title again the following year. This, though, was by far the biggest victory of his career.

“It's really special and I’m just lost for words,” admitted a teary new champion. “If it wasn't for all this media, all the photos, I would probably go in my room and cry for a couple hours. I just remember how I felt a lot of the times when I wasn't playing well, and it was difficult. Golf is a very up-and-down sport. That's something I've learned.

“I'm definitely appreciating this more now than I did a couple years ago, which is really cool. I thought about my family, all the people around my corner that have suffered with me and also celebrated with me and kind of remembering all those people really brought tears to my eyes.”

One of the first people to congratulate him was 15-time major winner Tiger Woods, his TGL Jupiter Links captain. “The first person that texted me was Tiger Woods,” revealed Kim in his post-event press conference. “Shows you the person he is and how much he cares.”

The win was worth $1.575 million for Kim as he became the first Korean to land this prize. It is set to lift him up to eighth place in the DP World Tour’s Race to Dubai. He could move as high as 32nd in the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup standings. Oh, and he’s also guaranteed a spot in The Masters next year.

Kim overcame playing with a badly-sprained ankle to finish joint-second behind Brian Harman in The Open at Royal Liverpool three years ago. On the back of this brilliant effort, he’s heading back to Merseyside looking as though he’ll have a chance to go one better in the 154th edition at Royal Birkdale this week.

He hit some stunning shots over the course of the four days, though none was better than a majestic blow from 206 yards to set up his birdie at the 16th. “It might be one of the best shots I've hit in my career so far,” he admitted. It's definitely up there.

“There were a lot of key moments. One of the best shots I hit today was actually the second shot I hit on my second hole. It was 200 yards. Hit a 2-iron to seven feet. Didn't make birdie but that really put a lot of confidence in me.”

Three players will be joining Kim at Royal Birkdale after securing spots in the final men’s major of the season through their performances in this event. Keefer, an unknown quantity to Scottish golf fans before he arrived here, took pride of place with his eye-catching effort. American Michael Thorbjornsen and Victor Perez, the Frenchman who lives in Edinburgh, also booked their Birkdale berths with top-ten finishes.

MacIntyre picked up the Jock MacVicar Trophy as leading Scot, finishing ten shots ahead of Calum Hill after a closing 72 left him having to settle for a share of 42nd spot. After a bitterly disappointing weekend, meanwhile, Scott Jamieson finished last out of the 71 players to make the cut with an eight-over-par total.