Kim Keeps His Composure to Claim Third PGA Tour Title

La Quinta, California, United States: Kim Si-woo, a former Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC) participant, claimed a dramatic one-shot victory at The American Express. It was the Korean’s third PGA Tour title and ended a four-year winless run.

The 25-year-old closed with a superb eight-under 64 at PGA West Stadium Course which included pivotal birdies on holes 16 and 17 from four feet and 19 feet respectively to overhaul American Patrick Cantlay, who had set the clubhouse mark at 21-under following a course record 61.

Kim totalled 23-under 265 and moved up to ninth place on the FedEx Cup points list.

Australian Cameron Davis finished third for his career best result on Tour after a closing 64 while American Tony Finau, one of the overnight leaders with Kim and Max Homa, settled for fourth place following a 68.

Kim maintained his cool despite a jam-packed leaderboard and kept the bogeys off his card for a third time this week. He made birdies on the fourth, fifth, seventh, eighth, 10th and 11th to stay in the title chase before producing a glorious finish to pip world number 10 Cantlay.

Coincidently, Kim’s last victory at the 2017 Players Championship, the Tour’s flagship tournament, was at the Pete Dye-designed Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass. Dye also designed the Stadium Course at PGA West in La Quinta, California.

“I had many chances to win since the Players but I couldn’t make it. I tried to keep my composure (today) and I made it. I’m so happy,” said Kim, who in 2011, as a fresh-faced 16-year-old, shared 46th place in the third edition of the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship at the Singapore Island Country Club – an event won by Hideki Matsuyama.

“When I had the chance to win (previously), I didn’t play very well. I had a lot of ups and downs as I tried to play aggressive and that actually made me lose. My coach (Claude Harmon) talked to me about it a lot. Even this week he told me there will be chances and to keep waiting and be patient, keep composure, and believe in yourself. That’s what I tried to do.”

After making a two-putt birdie on the par-five 16th hole to tie Cantlay, Kim seized his moment at the par-three 17th by draining a long effort to snatch the outright lead before holding on to victory with a regulation par at the last hole.

Kim is now second behind only KJ Choi as the Korean with most wins on the PGA Tour. Choi triumphed eight times. “It feels great. I cannot say I will achieve what KJ Choi did because he did a great job. My goal this year was to have a win and I’ve got it already. I just want to have one more win and try to get into the Tour Championship,” said Kim.