Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: Should Kim Bi-o bump into Shane Lowry at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club this week he could be forgiven for affording himself a wry smile … and a fleeting moment of nostalgia.
Korean Kim and Irishman Lowry are in the starting line-up at the US$5 million PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers, the opening leg of the Asian Tour’s 2022 season.
Although they barely know each other on a personal level, this will not be the first time that their paths have crossed.
Not that Kim expects the 2019 Open Championship winner to have vivid recollections of their encounters in a Ryder Cup-style contest between the finest male amateurs of Asia-Pacific and Europe almost 14 years ago.
The sixth edition of the Bonallack Trophy took place at Valderrama in Spain in the final week of April, 2008 with the host continent’s star-studded team spearheaded by Lowry and the English duo of Chris Wood and Danny Willett, then the world’s number one amateur and a Masters champion in the making.
For their part, Asia-Pacific hopes of an ‘away’ win were reliant on New Zealand standout Danny Lee and 17-year-old Korean Kim Bi-o.
While Lee had a week to forget, losing four of his five matches, Kim’s reputation soared on the back of a sterling performance that saw him claim 3½ points from a possible five.
Alongside unrelated compatriot Kim Yeong-su, Bi-o recovered from a one-down loss in their opening match to remain undefeated.
In two epic foursomes contests, the Kims followed up a first-day half against Willett and Wood by beating the Englishmen 2 & 1. Earlier on day two, they’d swept aside Lowry and Welshman Nigel Edwards 3 & 1 in the fourballs.
Not content with those efforts, Kim Bi-o went on to score a comprehensive 4 & 2 win over Lowry in the final-day singles.
Although Bio’s heroics proved in vain with Europe running out comfortable winners, the Korean, confidence boosted, returned to Asia where he pulled off a notable double, winning both the Korean Amateur and Japan Amateur titles.
The following year, Kim and Lowry both relinquished their amateur status. They’ve gone on to carve successful careers with multiple wins, Kim in Asia and Lowry in Europe.
While Kim recalls his sole Bonallack Trophy appearance with fondness, he’s typically modest and under-stated when discussing those clashes with Lowry.
Of his singles success, Kim said: “Europe had already won the trophy so I think Shane was going easy on me!”
Rather than reflect on past glories, Kim, now aged 31 and a father-of-two, is firmly focused on what lies ahead, starting with the Saudi International.
Following an impressive run of form that saw him conclude the Asian Tour’s 2020-21 campaign with four successive top-10s – Blue Canyon Phuket Championship (tied fourth); Laguna Phuket Championship (tied second); The Singapore International (seventh) and SMBC Singapore Open (tied ninth) – Kim is anxious to continue trending upwards.
“I’m looking forward to Saudi Arabia. I’ve never been to the Middle East so it’s a first for me and a special event for the Asian Tour,” said Kim, who placed seventh on the Asian Tour’s 2020-21 Order of Merit and has climbed to 216th in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR).
“The Saudi International is a great opportunity for Asian Tour members to play with PGA Tour players. For me, I need to concentrate on my own game and play how I can – not try and play like Dustin (Johnson) or Bryson (DeChambeau),” added Kim, for whom collecting world ranking points is a priority as he plots a path back to the PGA Tour.
“At some point, I want to get inside the top-100 in the world ranking, qualify for the Majors and get back to the big-time on the PGA Tour,” said Kim, who admits he was unprepared for his first flirt with the PGA Tour after gaining a spot via qualifying school at the end of 2010.
In 2011, at the age of 20, he was the youngest member of the PGA Tour. Although he posted five top-25 finishes from 25 starts he finished 162nd on the Money List and lost his card.
“Looking back, I wasn’t ready mentally for the big stage. I was a little homesick and I couldn’t compete. Now I’m more settled and mature and would like to have another shot,” said Kim, who will consider attempting to regain his playing rights through the Korn Ferry Tour.
After his varied experiences as a teenage prodigy, Kim is better placed than most to comment on the remarkable exploits of his 19-year-old compatriot Kim Joo-hyung, the Asian Tour’s 2020-21 Order of Merit champion, and 14-year-old Thai Ratchanon ‘TK’ Chantananuwat, whose recent performances have catapulted them into the headlines.
Bio Kim said: “Joo-hyung is capable of getting to the very top. He’s got a fabulous tempo and rhythm to his swing and he doesn’t seem to get shaky or nervous. Nothing bothers him.
“For TK, I was surprised that he didn’t back off when playing with Paul Casey at the SMBC Singapore Open. It was impressive.
“They’re both more mature than I was when I was the same age as them. I was too hurried, wanting to get on Tour as soon as possible instead of spending enough time learning.”