New Orleans [US], April 21 (ANI): Korean duo Si Woo Kim and Tom Kim have just one goal at this week’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans, which is to have enjoyable.
The Kims made an Eleventh-hour determination to compete as a crew at this week’s US$8.6 million PGA TOUR cease at TPC Louisiana and at the moment are pumped to problem for the event, which options 80 two-man groups competing in Four-Ball and Foursomes over the 4 days of competitors.
“I’m looking forward to playing with Tom this week,” mentioned Si Woo, a four-time PGA TOUR winner. “We had so much fun together at the Presidents Cup last year and with this week’s format, I think we will have a good time together. We get on really well and our games click. Our intention is to just enjoy ourselves here and hopefully, we will bring the best out of each other again.”When Tom made his approach onto the PGA TOUR final season the place he has since received twice, the 20-year-old rising star frolicked with Si Woo in Dallas a lot that they’ve turn into agency mates. In the Presidents Cup at Quail Hollow final September, they teamed up in Saturday’s Four-Ball session and produced one of many nice wins with a 1-up victory over Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele, who’re the defending champions on the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
“Obviously we talked about this way before,” mentioned Tom.
“We were both kind of thinking about it but when the schedule came out, it was a bit tough and we were planning on taking the week off. Both of us didn’t have the best week last week and we were like saying ‘let’s go out and have some fun’,” added Tom, who’s presently fifteenth on the FedExCup factors listing.
Both gamers missed the midway reduce on the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town final week which prolonged their spell with out a top-10 since January. Tom received the Shriners Children’s Open final October whereas Si Woo triumphed within the Sony Open in Hawaii in January.
Tom, who’s seven years youthful than Si Woo, mentioned their video games are so related that it merely made sense for them to be companions once more. “We’ve had success in the Presidents Cup, so we knew we are a good duo. Kind of happened and kind of happy, and I think we’ll just go out to have fun this week. That’s the biggest thing,” mentioned Tom, who loved two top-10s on the Sentry Tournament of Champions and The American Express in January.
“We don’t really get team events and our games are pretty similar. If you look at our stats, our driving distance or whatever it is, our strength and stuff, we’re kind of close and that’s’ what great teams are and that’s how great partnerships work because of how close we are too. The experience at the Presidents Cup will help us this week as the trust and believe is there.”At Quail Hollow, Tom produced two particular moments on the 18th gap on that memorable Saturday afternoon Four-Ball match alongside Si Woo. First, he rifled a surprising 2 iron method after which rolled in a curling 10-foot birdie putt for a significant level which sparked wild celebrations. It saved the International Team within the match towards a star-studded U.S. Team, which ultimately received the Presidents Cup 17.5 to 12.5 factors.
Si Woo was the International Team’s main performer with three factors through the week, together with a surprising Singles win over Justin Thomas whereas Tom, who was making his debut, delivered two factors which included a Foursomes win alongside Ok.H. Lee towards Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns.
Other Asian stars on this week’s discipline embody Korea’s Byeong Hun An/S.H. Kim, Sung Kang/Sangmoon Bae, Korea’s Sungjae Im who will companion Keith Mitchell, China’s Marty Zecheng Dou and Zac Blair, Korean S.Y. Noh alongside Michael Kim and China’s Carl Yuan with Tyson Alexander.
Collin Morikawa/Max Homa, Sam Burns/Billy Horschel and Justin Suh/Sahith Theegala will begin the week as contenders as properly. The midway reduce on Friday will see the main 33 groups and ties progressing into the weekend rounds.
Korea’s Ok.J. Choi and S.Y. Noh received the Zurich Classic in 2002 and 2014 respectively when the occasion’s format was particular person stroke play earlier than it modified to the crew format in 2017. (ANI)