Woo-Hoo!
Make that, Si Woo!
As in Si Woo Kim, who became your 2017 Players Champion with a Sunday performance that made him look like the coolest guy on the grass at the sadistic Stadium Course.
No one saw this coming, perhaps not even Kim, who became the youngest winner ever at this flagship event of the PGA Tour.
When you see the headlines flash that a golfer named Kim has won a big title, you would think someone is talking about the LPGA Tour.
But no, this Mr. Kim is one of many on the PGA Tour. There’s K.T. Kim, Whee Kim, Hyung-Sung Kim, Michael Kim and once upon a time there was Anthony Kim, who has disappeared into oblivion.
This Mr. Kim looked like he didn’t even break a sweat out there late Sunday afternoon when some very accomplished players were turning into high-handicappers.
Si Woo looked every bit like Cool Hand Luke as he managed to get up-and-down every time he missed a green. He went 10-for-10, showing off a world class short game that kept the pressure on everyone else.
Speaking of everyone else, only Ian Poulter could mount any challenge to Kim. Poulter had worked his way to eight-under through 17 holes, just two back with Kim facing the nerve-wracking 17th. Poulter hit what he described as “a shank” for his second at 18 and that would assure Kim of victory after Kim once again showed he was the coolest guy on the grounds when he found dry land at 17.
What pressure?
Poulter hit a world-class fourth shot at 18, saving a great bogey and tying for second with Louie Oosthuizen, who once again proved that although he’s a major champion, he cannot win on American soil.
Kim took over on the front nine when the overnight leaders, J.B. Holmes and Kyle Stanley immediately started going in the wrong direction. Those two were a mess all day.
Holmes would embarrass himself badly. He became the first 54-hole leader in The Players to shoot 84 over the final 18 holes. Went from tie for first to 41st. He finished in style as well, making eight at the 17th and a double at the 18th.
Stanley kept it reasonable. His 75 got him a T4 with Rafa Cabrera-Bello, who scored the first-ever double-eagle at the 16th, then a birdie at the 17th and a sweet par to 18 to post six-under.
But this day was all about Kim.
“I still can’t believe I’m the champion,” Kim said through his interpreter. He understands English but speaks very little. “I’m honored to be the champion.”
He should be. He was the 75th-ranked player in the world coming in and will take a huge leap in the world rankings this week.
His closing 69 was a pure work of art. His season coming in gave no hint that he would put on the performance he did. He’s had four missed cuts and a couple of WDs this season thanks to a testy back at times. He did get a T22 at the Texas Open.
He’s done some good work lately with new instructor Sean Foley, the guy Tiger Woods hired then fired as he’s done to a bunch of name teachers.
Si Woo may have found his man in Foley.
Kim’s swing looked so very solid all day. He was so steady that he finally got Johnny Miller to quit asking: “Can he hold it together?”
Kim not only held it together, he was damn near perfect with his incredible array of short recovery shots around the greens he missed.
Never any doubt.
So at the end of the day, Si Woo Kim earned $1.89 million.
That’s 18.9 cents for every Kim that lives in South Korea.
He also earned a five-year exemption on the PGA Tour.
What the win didn’t exempt him from was the military service obligation required by South Korea for all males between 19 and 35 years of age.
Wonder when that call might come?
