Kim Si-woo Raring to Hear Roars of Augusta’s Patrons

Augusta, Georgia, United States: Former Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC) participant Kim Si-woo can’t wait to hear the roars return at the Masters Tournament this week. And he hopes to be one of the reasons for creating the noise.

With a limited number of patrons allowed on site at Augusta National Golf Club to watch the year’s first Major, Kim is looking forward to savouring the atmosphere and launching a title challenge.

“We have played without fans over the last few months. When I hit good shots and made good putts, I couldn’t get motivated and get my energy up because I didn’t hear any loud cheering,” said Kim, who shared 46th place in the third edition of the AAC at the Singapore Island Country Club in 2011 when aged 16.

“Now, with some fans coming back, we get a lot more cheers. It gives me added motivation and energy,” added Kim, who made his Masters debut in 2017.

“When I was young, I watched the Masters on TV. I saw players hit great shots on a great course, and I knew all the famous holes. When I first came here, the course condition was way better than I imagined. It was almost flawless. I felt like I am in a dream,” he recalled.

His debut, though, proved to be short-lived as rounds of 75 and 81 saw him make an early exit. However, Kim proved to be a quick learner and in subsequent visits he has finished tied 24th, tied 21st and tied 34th, results which have reinforced his belief that he can compete for the Green Jacket.

“I think it’s very meaningful to participate in the Masters. The first time I played, I was so nervous that I didn’t play how I wanted to. But after that I had a little more experience and I think I could play well and this course fits me. Somehow, I have played better here than in other Majors,” said Kim, currently 23rd on the FedEx Cup points list.

“The Masters is a big competition and it’s an honour to participate. It is my dream to play with best players on the best golf courses. I never thought we would play the Masters twice in one season. When I played last November (the Masters was rescheduled last year due to Covid-19), I couldn’t qualify for the next one. But I’m really happy to be able to play here again after winning at The American Express in January,” he said.

Still only 25, Kim is already a three-time PGA Tour winner, ranked only behind eight-time winner KJ Choi as the Korean golfer with most wins on Tour.

He secured his breakthrough at the 2016 Wyndham Championship and nine months later became the youngest winner of The Players Championship. He ended a three-year winless drought in January at The American Express.

To date, YE Yang remains Asia’s lone male Major champion, having triumphed in the 2009 PGA Championship. Meanwhile, the best Masters finish by an Asian was achieved by Im Sung-jae, joint runner-up five months ago.

Kim hopes to get into the Masters mix this week. He said: “Competing with good players is the reason I play golf. There is pressure and excitement. It will be good to compete well with other talented players.”

With Im also enjoying success on the PGA Tour, Kim says their friendship has become a motivating factor for him. “Sung-jae has been so good and hot for two to three years now. I’m very proud of him. Looking at the Korean players on the leaderboard each time, I feel proud. It makes me want to work hard, too. It’s an opportunity for Korean players to motivate each other.

“The first time we met was when I was 15 in a junior tournament. He was very calm and good at golf even though he was young. I was already impressed by Sung-jae’s game at that time. Then he won at The Honda Classic (in 2020) and became one of the best players on Tour. Seeing that gives me lots of motivation and makes me want to work even harder.”