Tom Kim is about to make his long-awaited return to home soil at the Genesis Championship in South Korea—it’s been over two years since he last played there.
His fans will definitely remember that impressive tie for fifth at the GS Caltex Maekyung Open back in May 2022, just before he burst onto the scene with a third-place finish at the Genesis Scottish Open.
Since then, Kim’s star has only risen, securing three PGA TOUR victories, playing in two Presidents Cups, and representing South Korea at this summer’s Olympic Games.
Kim, now ranked 25th in the world, is the highest-ranked player competing at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club for the first-ever Genesis Championship following the merger of the DP World Tour’s Korea Championship and the KPGA TOUR’s Genesis Championship.
Joining him is fellow Presidents Cup teammate Byeong Hun An, who famously became the first Asian golfer to win the BMW PGA Championship nine years ago.
Tom Kim: “It’s going to be really fun. I don’t think I’ve played in front of a home crowd for two-and-a-half years, ever since I’ve been on the PGA TOUR with the schedule and stuff, but I’m really excited. It’s going to be really fun and I can’t wait for Thursday.
“The game feels pretty sharp but most importantly it’s about going out and taking care of my business, that’s all that matters. If I go out and shoot, 20-25 under par and I still lose and do my part, that’s all I care about.
“All I want is a chance on Sunday, I feel like that would be really cool because I haven’t been back since 2022 so hopefully I can get my game together and have a run.”
Spanish golfer Pablo Larrazábal, the 2023 Korea Championship winner, will defend his title at the unified event.
He faces stiff competition from Park Sang-hyun, the reigning Genesis Champion at this same venue, along with 90 DP World Tour players and 30 KPGA TOUR players who are battling it out in Incheon this week.
Pablo Larrazábal: “It’s awesome to be back, what a golf course. I had so many memories playing yesterday, I played the back nine and going through all those shots that I hit on Sunday afternoon down the stretch, it was very emotional.
Playing with Ivan Cantero, who is playing for a tour card, I tried to give him those vibes that I had last year.
They treat us so well here in Korea, everything is positive. I’m not a big fan of long golf courses.
This is one but this is a shot-maker’s golf course, this is a second shot golf course, this is a golf course where if you miss shots you can recover but it’s tough. It’s tough to make up-and-downs.
“I like those kind of golf courses that make you think on the second shot, you have to be very precise to make birdies.
“It’s a beautiful thing, it’s a magnificent job that Jack did here. Everything about this golf course is just pure.”
Also in the spotlight is Korea’s Yubin Jang, who leads the KPGA Order of Merit and is aiming to extend his lead with only three events left.
Italy’s Guido Migliozzi, currently 20th on the Race to Dubai Rankings, is looking for a strong finish to boost his chances of securing dual membership with the PGA TOUR for next season.
The Genesis Championship serves as the final event of the 2024 DP World Tour’s global schedule before the Play-Offs.
The top 110 players on the Race to Dubai Rankings will retain their membership for the 2025 season, and the current cut-off lies with Freddy Schott of Germany, ranked 114th, with four players currently counted as “in addition” to the 110.
