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Tom Kim and Sungjae Im leaving the tee hole while the Team USA players still needed to complete their game brought criticism from the commentators at the 2024 Presidents Cup. During the first day of the biennial tournament on Thursday, 26 September, Kim and Im teamed up to play against Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley.
However, on the eighth hole, after completing their game, the International Team players moved ahead to the ninth hole while Scheffler still needed to complete his game on the hole. This sparked controversy, and tournament commentator Paul McGinley commented on the players' behavior. McGinley said:
"That's bordering on bad behavior...that's disrespectful in my opinion.”
However, in the post-round press conference of the tournament, Kim explained his reasons for leaving early. He said, via Golf Week:
“We just were focusing on our game. I made a putt, and whether he made it or not wasn’t going to make a difference. There was no reason to stay there and look at him putt. It doesn’t help us at all. I wasn’t trying to be cheap or do anything like that. We were focused on our own game.”
In the match between Kim-Im and Scheffler-Henley, Team USA registered a win and took the lead in the game.
"They took gamesmanship too far"- USA Assistant Captain critiques Tom Kim and Sungjae Im's actions at Presidents Cup
USA Team Assistant Captain Kevin Kisner was also critical of Tom Kim and Sungjae Im for leaving Scottie Scheffler behind on the eighth hole and moving on to the ninth. In his conversation with Golf Channel's Todd Lewis, Kisner opened up about the International Team players' behavior and said, as quoted by Golf Week:
"They took gamesmanship too far and over the line on sportsmanship and lose some integrity. I thought it was pretty bush league and I told Camilo that if that’s the way they want to do it, then game on. If you can piss off my No. 1 player in the world, then I’m all for it.”
Because of this incident, Kisner even had a war of words with International Team Assistant Captain Camilo Villegas. On the 16th hole, as per Lewis, both assistant captains had an argument. Reportedly, Villegas asked Kisner why he was being so sensitive about the incident.
Replying to Villegas, Kisner said, via Golf Week:
"Because I play by the rules."
To which the International Team Assistant Captain replied:
"Nothing against the rules of leaving the green.”
Meanwhile, Team USA dominated on the first day of the Presidents Cup, taking an early 5-0 lead by winning all of their fourball matches on Thursday. The players will next compete in foursome matches on Friday, 27 September. The tournament will conclude on 29 September.
