Sungjae Im and Tom Kim on the primary tee throughout Thursday’s four-ball match on the 2024 Presidents Cup.
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Nothing brings out a participant’s aggressive hearth like match play, and on Thursday on the Presidents Cup, viewers obtained to witness some enthusiastic and chippy conduct between World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and one in all his Worldwide opponents, Tom Kim.
Whereas Kim made a reputation for himself together with his exuberant celebrations on the 2022 Presidents Cup, Scheffler has a extra reserved status. However a 3rd of the way in which by means of their four-ball match with teammates Sungjae Im (Worldwide) and Russell Henley (U.S.), Kim and Scheffler shared a spirited trade that raised eyebrows within the broadcast sales space.
Scheffler and Henley have been 2 up by means of 6 holes when Kim drained a prolonged birdie putt on the seventh, eliciting a giant response, full with double fist-pumps, a “Come on!” and “Let’s go!”
Scheffler then confronted a 27-foot birdie putt of his personal to reply, on an identical line to Kim’s. When it went in, Scheffler turned to Kim and shouted “Whuzzat?!!!” as in, What was that?!
It was an uncharacteristic show of emotion — and in-your-face taunting — which the printed staff was fast to diffuse, reminding viewers that Kim and Scheffler are good buddies who play a lot golf collectively exterior of their aggressive rounds on the PGA Tour. It must also famous, nevertheless, that Kim stated he desires to take Scheffler down this week.
After the dramatic matching birdies, the group headed to the eighth gap with the Individuals holding a 2-up lead. However then on the eighth inexperienced, Kim drained one other prolonged birdie, this one from 24 ft. One other vocal celebration ensued, and Scheffler even picked up Kim’s ball and handed it to him with out taking a look at him.
Scheffler had a makeable look to reply, however Kim and Im didn’t grasp round, leaving Scheffler and Henley on the inexperienced and heading straight to the ninth tee with out watching Scheffler putt — a breach of customary golf etiquette.
“It’s positively a bit chippy on this group proper now,” stated NBC on-course reporter John Wooden.
“So they aren’t capable of see him placing?” requested analyst Paul McGinley.
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“They’re 60 yards away on the ninth tee and so they’re not watching,” Wooden replied.
The printed digicam then panned to the ninth tee to indicate Im and Kim standing and ready with their backs to the inexperienced.
“What do you consider that?” requested NBC’s Dan Hicks.
“Nicely, that’s bordering on unhealthy conduct there,” McGinley stated. “That’s disrespectful, in my view. I do know it’s aggressive on the market. However that definitely exhibits you there’s an underlying edge right here that’s not all enjoyable and video games.”
Scheffler missed the birdie putt, reducing his and Henley’s result in 1 up.
Nonetheless, the Individuals would go on to cruise, profitable the match 3 and a couple of.
“That was a little bit of enjoyable,” Scheffler instructed Golf Channel’s Damon Hack afterward of the spiciness between him and Kim. “Identical factor I’d have accomplished at house if we have been enjoying towards each other.”
He added with a smile, “We’re buddies after [the match]. We’re not buddies throughout.”
