The Pro's Olympics ends on a 'wonderful' tear, but not for the reason you might think
Scottie Scheffler offers condolences to Tom Kim after Kim's tough finish.
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Over four holes on Sunday in Paris, Jon Rahm fell from the lead in the Olympic Men's Golf Championship by four to walk off the podium. He ended his final round by three-putting the 72nd hole to finish four back at 15 under. Golf Channel's Brandel Chamblee called it “one of the biggest collapses of the year.”
Xander Schauffele was also on the hunt for medals. Up until the middle of Schauffele's ninth on Sunday, the week looked like it would be a continuation of his hot summer that has brought him two major titles. But he finished seven shots back after going four over in four holes on the second nine.
And there was Rory McIlroy, who made a charge to redeem his US Open woes from two months ago. He was reeling off five straight birdies when his second shot on the short 15th hole found water. Game over.
Three sports champions, many great winners, all came to Paris for a short time in a spectacular way. All three had something to prove to themselves: Rahm, that he could still compete in major events after leaving the PGA Tour; Schauffele, that after his two big summers he was the new alpha dog of golf; and McIlroy, that he can jump quickly at Pinehurst.
But all those scenarios pale in comparison to what Tom Kim has been playing for this week.
When his last putt fell on Sunday, Kim wore his emotions on his sleeve. After playing with his best friend Scottie Scheffler, who compiled a perfect final round of 62 to take the gold medal, Kim wiped away tears in the scoring area. He said that was the first time for him.
“You never really get emotional after a round,” Kim said after finishing 8th. “I think these feelings surprise me but I think it's all the hard work I've done this year to put myself in this situation, those things are coming out.”
Kim, who is playing for South Korea in her first Olympics along with Ben An, was playing for more than just a medal this week. As with all men over the age of 19 in South Korea, both Kim, 22, and An, 32, must return to the country before they turn 35 to serve in the military. 18 to 21 months.
But there is a caveat. Korean golfers can get an exemption from military service by winning a gold medal in the Asian Games or anywhere medal at the Olympics.
Sungjae Im and Si Woo Kim who missed out on last year's Ryder Cup qualifier combined to win gold at the Asian Games to earn an exemption. But the next Asian Games is not until 2026m and Kim said there was talk of returning to a novice-only competition.
Korean Sangmoon Bae won twice on the PGA Tour in 2013 and 2014 before he lost in court to be released from mandatory service and ended up serving two years from 2015 to 2017. He was never the same after that. He peaked in the top 30 of the Official World Golf Ranking in 2011 but is now outside the top 550.
Some Korean players, such as KJ Choi and YE Yang, turned pro after their service. That was not an option for Kim, who became a champion at the age of 15. An, meanwhile, has very little time to get a release as he has already delayed his service.
Kim, a rising PGA Tour star who already has three PGA Tour wins and two major top-10s, gave himself a chance to make the cut this week when he was just four back for the gold medal and three back for the bronze to start Sunday. .
But all week he has been downplaying the weight of the upcoming service.
“I think the simple answer for us is that we will play well this week,” said Msombuluko. “We are not focused on that. We're here to represent our country and I want – to be honest, I want me and Ben to stand on that stage not to be free but to represent our country. That is the most important part.”
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On Sunday, he revealed that his struggles at the start of the season (he didn't have a top 10 before June), which put his Olympic bid in jeopardy, had taken a toll on him. The qualifying deadline came after the US Open and Kim entered the field. He quickly put together his best start of the year the following week, losing in a playoff match at the Travelers Championship.
He said that in the past two weeks preparing for this event, he was “brutal.”
“Then when the round is over, it's all done and done,” he said. “I think the emotions I've been involved in this year are coming out.”
Kim made his run in the final round with four birdies on the front nine. He was one ahead of Scheffler as they made the turn. He then hit it 14 feet on the par-3 11th. That would put him at 15 under, within spitting distance of the faltering leaders behind him.
He ran his birdie attempt to four feet, and his par putt didn't even touch the hole.
Kim put himself back in contention for the bronze with two birdies, but a bogey on the 18th ended his podium hopes for good. He did a double take and looked dejected as he congratulated his friend on his victory.
Kim's emotions were running high, but he said it had nothing to do with his release from the war.
“I wasn't thinking about that at all,” he said. “Just try to win a medal for my country and not me.”
Scheffler offered some words to his friend on the 18th green. The two live near each other in Dallas and share a birthday.
“The things that Scottie said to me after the round just came out and I'm just trying to put it together,” Kim said. “It is a private conversation. So I'm just thankful for the friendship.
“He is a very good friend of mine. We will probably play golf again next week. You understand what I went through. Those things and for a friend to say something like that after what he's done, it means a lot.”
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