CROMWELL, Conn. – Good golf only matters if it’s played at the right times. For months, Tom Kim has felt good about his swing, putter, and mentality. Practicing with Scottie Scheffler and Jordan Spieth in Dallas, Kim was in excellent form. However, the results on the TOUR didn’t reflect his potential. Despite feeling prepared, Kim faced challenges that prevented him from performing his best when it counted.
After missing the cut at the Valero Texas Open, Kim dropped to 99th in the FedExCup standings. Following his usual playing schedule of no more than three consecutive weeks wasn’t yielding the expected results. So, Kim decided to make a change and committed to playing more frequently. He finished 30th at the Masters and 18th at the RBC Heritage, skipping the Zurich Classic of New Orleans but playing every week since.
This strategy began to pay off. Kim shot a 5-under 65 on Friday at the Travelers Championship, following an 8-under 62 in the first round. He leads after 36 holes, firmly positioned to potentially secure his fourth career PGA TOUR victory.
“The score is the score,” Kim said. “I’ve been playing really, really solid, and I’ve been saying the past few minutes that it’s not about this week, it’s about keeping these momentum blocks building for the rest of the season.”
On his 22nd birthday, Kim celebrated by eating pizza with Scottie Scheffler and receiving a cake from tournament officials. Despite occasional setbacks, like a Saturday 78 at the Memorial Tournament or a final-round 76 at the U.S. Open, Kim has steadily regained his competitive edge. On Friday, he missed just one fairway and one green, making 13 birdies and no bogeys over two days at the Travelers.
Credit: PGA Tour
To maintain his form, Kim has made a point to practice after each round, even in the 100-degree heat. These short end-of-day sessions help ensure his swing stays sharp despite the fatigue from continuous play.
“Physically, things can get off pretty quickly, so just trying to stay in sharp form and doing the right things to keep the momentum going,” he said.
Kim’s extended playing schedule has improved his FedExCup standings, but he still aims for a higher position. Entering the week ranked 61st, Kim’s goal is to secure guaranteed starts at Signature Events. With a win, he projects to move up to 20th, easing those concerns.
Kim’s lead was as large as six shots early on Friday. He made four birdies in five holes around the turn (Nos. 6-10) to take command of the tournament but played the final eight holes at even-par. At TPC River Highlands, maintaining a lead requires continuous birdies. Kim’s lead was three shots when he finished the day, likely to shrink by day’s end.
Kim’s focus on the process over the past two months has started to pay off. It has worked through the first two days at the Travelers. The question remains: will it work for two more?
