RIDGELAND, S.C. – During the opening round of the CJ Cup in South Carolina, reigning FedEx Cup champion Rory McIlroy asked Tom Kim when he’d be turning 21. The answer – not until June 21– hit McIlroy like a bag of bricks.
“I’m going to be 34 before he can buy a(n alcoholic) drink in the United States,” he said after the round during a TV interview.
Then McIlroy asked Kim if he celebrated either of his two PGA Tour wins with a beer, the latest victory being just two weeks ago at the Shriners Hospital’s Open. Kim smiled and shook his head from side to side. McIlroy looked disappointed.
“All right, when you turn 21 and win your next PGA Tour event I’m going to bring you out for a few drinks,” McIlroy promised.
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Victory No. 3 could come sooner than that as Kim opened with a 5-under 66 at Congaree Golf Club on Thursday to tie McIlroy and sit just one shot off the first-round lead held by Trey Mullinax and Gary Woodland.
On a picture-perfect day without a cloud in the sky, Kim enjoyed playing with McIlroy for the first time in competition — they did previously play a practice round before the BMW Championship — and Rickie Fowler. As the temperature neared 70 degrees, Kim rolled up his sleeves as he and McIlroy combined for 11 birdies and just one bogey – by Kim at the last. (Fowler got off to a sluggish start signing for 3-over 74.)
“Playing on the PGA Tour and playing with guys like Rory and Rickie today, it’s a dream for me,” Kim said. “I’m still high up on gas and just excited to be here.”
Tom Kim of South Korea walks from the fourth tee during the first round of the CJ Cup at Congaree Golf Club on October 20, 2022 in Ridgeland, South Carolina. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Count McIlroy as impressed with the play of the young South Korean. “He didn’t really miss a shot out there. He’s a very, very solid player, plays to his strengths. Makes the same swing at it pretty much every time, like it’s very, very consistent, very steady,” he said.
Kim agreed with McIlroy’s assessment of his ballstriking, noting that a leaked 5-iron right on 10 was probably the furthest offline he hit any shot all day, but he still managed to make par from there.
This was a mutual admiration society as Kim praised McIlroy’s bogey-free round, which included driving the 360-yard par-4 15th hole and making birdie. McIlroy routinely outdrove Kim by 50-60 yards but Kim was unfazed and drilled…
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