Daijiworld Media Network- Harbour Town
Harbour Town, April 19:Missing out on the Masters Tournament for the first time in nine years left South Korea’s Si Woo Kim disheartened. But the four-time PGA Tour winner has turned that pain into fuel as he mounts a strong challenge at this week’s USD 20 million RBC Heritage.
Kim carded a superb 7-under 64 on Friday to rocket into a tie for second at 10-under-par, just two shots behind leader Justin Thomas. With elite names like World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler (8-under), Collin Morikawa, Brian Harman, and Wyndham Clark also in the mix, the weekend promises a thrilling finish.
“Watching the Masters last week was really frustrating,” Kim admitted. “But I knew I had to move on and focus on this week.”
The 29-year-old came into Harbour Town following two missed cuts in Texas and a season yet to spark — with no top-10 finishes in 11 starts. While his iron play has remained sharp, his putting has let him down, ranking 140th in Strokes Gained: Putting. However, a switch back to the short putter seems to be paying off — Kim ranks second in putting through 36 holes.
Despite a shaky start to the tournament, Kim found his rhythm quickly. A standout moment came at the par-5 5th, where he struck a 276-yard approach to within five feet and rolled in the eagle. Six birdies and just one bogey rounded off an impressive round.
“I wasn’t feeling great initially. Even my driver felt scary off the tee,” Kim confessed. “But once I got going and focused more on the shot than the outcome, things started to click.”
Harbour Town is familiar territory for Kim. In 2018, he narrowly missed out on victory here, losing in a playoff to Japan’s Satoshi Kodaira. This week presents a chance for redemption.
“You don’t have to hit it far here, which works for me,” Kim said. “I’ve played well here before, and I like the course.”
With two rounds left and the Masters disappointment still fresh, Kim is channeling his emotions into a determined pursuit of victory — one that could mark a turning point in his 2025 season.