Tom Kim excited for opportunity to win third consecutive title at Shriners Children's Open
Tom Kim is facing a challenge this week against past records.
Since Steve Stricker's three consecutive wins at the John Deere Classic from 2009 to 2011, no player has been able to win the same PGA Tour event three years in a row. Kim is attempting to achieve a three-peat at the Shriners Children's Open, which begins on Thursday in Las Vegas.
"I think it's an incredibly exciting week just to have the opportunity to do that," said the golfer, who hails from South Korea, on Tuesday. "That's the most exciting part."
Kim's most recent competitive appearance was at the Presidents Cup last month, so he believes his game is in top form for this week's tournament.
At just 22 years old, Kim already has three PGA Tour wins under his belt. He first made a name for himself at the 2022 Wyndham Championship, where he won on a sponsor's exemption. Two months later, he dominated at the Shriners, shooting 24 under par and beating out top players like Patrick Cantlay.
He returned to the Shriners last year, when the tournament was part of the inaugural "FedEx Cup Fall" series. Once again, he finished strong with rounds of 62 and 66 to secure a one-shot victory over Adam Hadwin of Canada.
"I think it's all about taking advantage," Kim explained. "There are some challenging holes, like the long par-3s and tough par-4s. But if you strategize well in the first 12 holes, you can reach the more accessible holes later on, like the short par-3, drivable par-4, and another par-5 right after."
"There are plenty of birdie opportunities out there," he added. "You just have to be strategic about when to attack. You could play a very uneventful round and still shoot 6-under. It's definitely possible. Good ball-striking is rewarded."
Aside from the potential three-peat, Kim also has a lot at stake this week.
While he did qualify for the FedEx Cup playoffs this past summer, Kim narrowly missed out on the top 50 that advanced to the BMW Championship. As a result, he is not automatically qualified for all of next year's signature events. He has since dropped to No. 55 in the points standings and needs to stay within the top 51-60 range to secure a spot in the first two signature events of 2025.
However, Kim is not too worried about his standing just yet.
"I looked at my performance in the elevated events and, aside from the Travelers Championship, I didn't do well in any of them," he reflected on his 2024 season. "I earned most of my points at the Travelers, so that made me realize that playing well in non-elevated events can still get you to a certain level. If I continue to play well, I'll have the chance to compete in more elevated events, which will only elevate my game even further."
