Tom Kim critical of crowd as US romps into Presidents Cup lead

Tom Kim has criticised the SPECTATORS at the Presidents Cup, insisting they didn’t do enough to help he and his Internationals teammates as the United States cruised into a commanding 5-0 lead.

Jim Furyk’s American side whitewashed their shellshocked opponents on Day 1 at Royal Montreal, putting them firmly on course for a tenth consecutive victory in the biennial dust-up.

Kim was one of those to taste defeat, he and fellow South Korean Sungjae Im going down 3&2 to Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley.

Afterwards, the 22-year-old openly questioned the support he and his teammates received from the crowd.

“I think it was a little too quiet today being on home soil,” said Kim. “I don’t think the fans were really — I wish they would have helped us out a bit more, especially being in Canada. I know how much they love golf.

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“I’m definitely expecting more crowds to be louder and for them to be on our side.”

Kim’s behaviour during Thursday’s first session drew widespread criticism from broadcasters and fans alike. However, he was in no mood to apologise.

“My emotions and my love towards this team doesn’t change,” he said. “I’m fighting for not only myself. It may look like I’m just a kid throwing fist pumps, but it’s not. It’s me throwing fist pumps for my team.

“I want my 11 other brothers on this team to know that I’m fighting really hard and I know that they’re feeling the same way. I’m trying to bring energy to the team.

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“Obviously, it looks like on TV there’s a little bit of banter, but in all groups there are. This is how it works. I’m sure Ryder Cup is the same way and Presidents Cup, as well. It’s just you’re playing for more than yourself and you’re bringing that energy.”

Captain Mike Weir defended Kim’s high-energy fist-pumping insisting: “I want them to be themselves. We have guys that are more reserved, we have guys that are a little more outgoing. You want them to be themselves, not be something they’re not.

“Guys like Tom and Min Woo [Lee] and a number of other guys on our team like to get the crowd going, like to get that going. But it’s got to be authentic. We don’t want guys to do something they’re not comfortable with.

“These are grown men. They know what they’re doing out there. We’re not going to tell them to change their personality out there. We want them to be themselves.”

Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor