Atlanta: Two South Korean golfers, Kim Si-woo and Tom Kim, are set to compete at the highly anticipated PGA Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta this week, with a staggering winner's prize of $10 million up for grabs.
According to Yonhap News Agency, these two skilled athletes will be among the exclusive group of 30 players who have qualified for this prestigious tournament, which commences on Thursday. The qualification was determined by the top 30 players in the FedEx Cup standings after the second playoff event, the BMW Championship, held last week. This marks a significant moment for both Kims, as they return to the Tour Championship for the first time since 2023.
Kim Si-woo, currently ranked fifth in the FedEx Cup standings, stands out as the only player within the top seven who has yet to secure a victory this year. Despite this, his impressive record includes 11 top-10 finishes, a feat second only to world number one, Scottie Scheffler. Kim Si-woo has also demonstrated remarkable consistency with 51 rounds in the 60s and 62 under-par rounds, leading the tour in these categories.
In contrast, Tom Kim is the sole South Korean golfer to have claimed a victory on the PGA Tour this year, having triumphed at the Genesis Scottish Open in July. This victory marked his first since October 2023. Tom Kim enters the Tour Championship ranked 29th in FedEx Cup points following the BMW Championship.
The two South Koreans previously tied for 20th place in their 2023 Tour Championship appearance. Since then, both the East Lake Golf Club and the tournament format have experienced significant changes. Following the 2023 tournament, the golf club underwent a $30 million renovation, and the PGA Tour eliminated the "starting strokes" system, ensuring all players begin on an equal footing from zero.
With a total purse of $40 million, the Tour Championship stands as the most lucrative tournament of the year. The winner will walk away with a $10 million prize, a sum that only four players have surpassed in earnings this season. Kim Si-woo has accumulated approximately $9.7 million, while Tom Kim has earned around $4.8 million. Notably, no South Korean has ever won the Tour Championship, adding an extra layer of anticipation to their performance this year.