If you’re not a New England Patriots fan, this reference may go over your head — Tom Kim is impacting golf the same way Bailey Zappe is impacting Boston-area football, the people have the fever.
Over the last few months, Kim has become a household name thanks to a ridiculous win at the Wyndham Championship (he began the tournament with a quadruple bogey), an electric performance at the Presidents Cup and another victory at the Shriners Children’s Open.
He’s quickly risen to No. 15 in the world and is set to contend for another title this week at the CJ Cup in Ridgeland, South Carolina.
Among all the Tom Kim-fever affected fans is world No. 2 Rory McIlroy, who had some glowing things to say about the 20-year-old phenom.
“I think that the journey or the rise that Tom’s been on over the last few months has been incredible,” McIlroy said Wednesday. “He finished second at the Scottish Open, I think, and then winning the Wyndham and starting the way he did and winning in the style that he did was, I think it made everyone really take notice of the talent that he has.
“And then I got to play a nine-hole practice round with him in Delaware a couple of weeks after that, which was fun to just see him play in person.
“And then I was watching the Presidents Cup a lot. I think there’s a lot more Tom Kim fans in the world because of the Presidents Cup, right? He was really fun to watch, he showed a ton of emotion, he played great.”
McIlroy, Kim and Rickie Fowler are set to play the first two rounds together at Congaree Golf Club this week, with their first round getting underway Thursday at 10:20 a.m. ET.
CJ Cup: Thursday tee times, how to watch
As Kim waited for his turn at the podium, he took the mic and had a question for the four-time major champion.
“Rory, I have a question for you. What’s it like having so much success as a young player? Coming out and many years on tour, how do you manage all that?”
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland talks at a press conference prior to the start of the CJ Cup at Congaree Golf Club on October 19, 2022 in Ridgeland, South Carolina. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
“I didn’t have as much success as you’re having at such a young age,” McIlroy said. “Like I think when you start to have success at a young age, you’re going to — I think the biggest thing that I realized is managing your time. You’re going to be pulled in so many different directions.
“You’ve got one,…
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