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Mark Schlabach, ESPN senior writer
Golfer Tom Kim apologized for damaging a locker room door after losing to Bung Hun An in a playoff at the DP World Tour Genesis Championship in his native South Korea on Monday.
King said in a statement posted to his Instagram account that he had no intention of damaging the door on Sunday and offered to pay for the repairs. Kim said he apologized to the DP World Tour and the Korea PGA Tour, which jointly sanctioned the tournament at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club in Incheon, South Korea.
“After the loss, I was frustrated, yes, absolutely,” King said in the statement.[B]But I can assure you with absolute truth that I have no intention of damaging any part of the locker, not at all. “
Ahn, also from South Korea, tied Kim with an 8-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole, while Kim won the match with an 8-foot birdie putt.
In the playoff, King hit his third shot into the stands on the par-5 18th hole and made bogey. Ann added another birdie to earn his second DP World Tour victory.
“I use [DP World Tour] Immediately after the incident, KPGA stated that the door came off,” King said. “We had to pull it out completely for safety reasons. I also let them know that I was willing to pay for all costs of the damage. “
King said the matter was “closed” after he spoke with the travel agent and offered to pay to repair the door. He does not believe he will be sanctioned by either tour.
“I'm grateful to everyone who sent messages of support, but I sincerely apologize to them and to anyone I may have let down,” King wrote.
This is the second time in less than a month that King has apologized for his behavior at the tournament. At the Presidents Cup in Montreal last month, he apologized to U.S. captain Jim Furyk and two-time major champion Xander Schauffele for telling reporters that unidentified members of the U.S. team were Cursing him and his partner Kim Si-woo during a foursome match.
King found Furyk and Schauffele after their singles match on Sunday. Team USA defeated Team International 18.5-11.5.
“Yeah, that was just my comment,” King said at the time. “I just told him, 'Hey, I didn't mean to be in such a negative way.' If so, I just said I'm sorry and that's just how I felt yesterday, some of the comments I heard at the time, It just comes from me, it just feels right to share.”
