“That’s disrespectful in my opinion,” said an unimpressed Paul McGinley. Confused? Well, he was alluding to when Tom Kim and Sungjae Im vacated the 8th hole to walk away to the tee box on the 9th. That too, they did before Scottie Scheffler finished his shot on the par-4 greens. But if you think that was all the South Korean golfers did, then you’re sorely wrong. For Kim’s antics didn’t stop at that but included a whole lot of other stuff as well, “fist-pumping and whatever,” as pointed out by a reporter. Suffice it to say, Mike Weir wasn’t impressed!
The 54-year-old skipper of the International team was spotted in an interview following his team’s first-day defeat to the Americans in the Thursday Four-balls. And when asked about Tom Kim’s actions on the course and whether he’d prefer that, Weir made sure to express how he would rather not witness that kind of showmanship. “Not necessarily,” replied the veteran golfer before emphasizing, “I want them to be themselves.”
via Reuters Golf – The 151st Open Championship – Royal Liverpool, Hoylake, Britain – July 23, 2023 South Korea’s Tom Kim tees off on the 4th hole during the final round REUTERS/Phil Noble
Quite an unfortunate situation for Kim, seeing as how his captain isn’t that impressed with him. Well, there’s more. “In my day, I wasn’t that type of player,” recounted Weir as he expressed what he wants from the team, “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.”
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Polls of the day Poll 1 of 22 Do you think Tom Kim’s antics towards Scottie Scheffler were justified? Absolutely Not at all It was all in good fun He crossed the line Do you think John Daly’s attitude issues should keep him out of the Presidents Cup? Absolutely No way Maybe, but he deserves a chance I don’t care Whats your Perspective on: Did Tom Kim’s antics cross the line, or was it just harmless fun in the Presidents Cup? Have an interesting take? Join The Debate Do you think the LPGA Walmart NW Arkansas Championship is doing enough to support LGBTQ+ women? Absolutely Not at all Could do more Not sure What do you think is the main reason behind Charlie Woods not attending Stanford? Personal choice Pressure of expectations Different career path Family influence Do you think the Presidents Cup will be the same without Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth? Absolutely not It will be different but still exciting Yes, it will be fine I don’t care Do you think the absence of Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth will impact the U.S. team’s performance in the Presidents Cup? Yes, significantly No, the new faces will step up Maybe, but it’s uncertain Not at all Who do you think will be the standout commentator at the 2024 Presidents Cup? Dan Hicks Paul Azinger Notah Begay III John Wood What do you think is the most impressive aspect of Charlie Woods’ character? His humility His dedication His sportsmanship His academic focus How did Phil Mickelson’s support for his wife Amy during her cancer battle impact your view of him? Increased my respect Made me emotional Didn’t change my view Made me a bigger fan Do you think Jon Rahm’s mysterious illness will affect his performance in the LIV Golf Championship? Yes, definitely No, he’s a fighter Not sure, but it’s concerning Doesn’t matter, he’s a pro Do you think Paige Spiranac’s comeback will inspire more women to take up golf? Absolutely Maybe Not really No way Do you think Lydia Ko is serious about retiring after her latest win? Absolutely No way Maybe, but it’s just a tease She needs a break Do you think Lydia Ko will dominate the 2024 NW Arkansas Championship? Absolutely No way Maybe Too early to tell Do you believe Greg Norman is lying about LIV Golf’s TV ratings? Absolutely No way Maybe I don’t care Do you think Jon Rahm will dominate the Spanish Open this year? Absolutely No way Maybe, if he stays focused It’s anyone’s game Do you think Rory McIlroy will bounce back stronger after his recent heartbreaks? Absolutely Not sure No, he’s past his prime Which format do you find most thrilling in the Presidents Cup? Match Play Four-Balls Foursomes All of them Do you think Scottie Scheffler’s stance on LIV Golf will impact his performance in the Presidents Cup? Yes No Maybe Not sure Who will you be rooting for in the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship? Top-ranked players Underdogs Local favorites International stars Do you think Mackenzie Hughes’ beer-chugging act was appropriate for the Presidents Cup? Absolutely Not at all It was entertaining It was disrespectful What do you think is the key to Si Woo Kim’s success on the PGA Tour? His golf gear His mental toughness His training regimen His experience
Feel like Tom Kim got off easy? Not even close. For Weir made sure to call him out alongside a fellow International team squad mate. “Guys like Tom and Min Woo and a number of other guys on our team like to get the crowd going,” said the captain as he re-emphasized how he wants the golfers to be themselves. “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.”
The result? Well, the skipper announced the pairings for the second round of golf on Friday, for the Foursome matches. And it appears only the likes of Tom Kim and Min Woo Lee are sitting out from the day’s action at the Presidents Cup. Quite a bold move by Mike Weir, in hopes of countering the “fantastic” round that the Jim Furyk-led American team dished out.
Mike Weir comes out candid on the first day of play at the Presidents Cup
“I saw great energy out there amongst our guys,” divulged the 54-year-old as he expressed his hope for the next day. “It didn’t go our way today, but the guys are positive,” said Weir, “I saw a lot of great things. The U.S. Team played fantastic today. Doesn’t mean we’re not going to do that tomorrow. The energy is good in our room.”
Well, he sure would hope for his team to come out victorious on the second day of play. For the American team completely defeated the International squad 5-0 on the Thursday Fourballs. Moreover, the Tom Kim-Sungjae Im duo also lost to the Scottie Scheffler-Russel Henley duo, 3&2. Frustrated would have been an understatement for Mike Weir but he seems to be holding on nicely. Regardless, they would expect to have a better day during the Foursomes.