Tom Kim, a rising sensation from South Korean and recent Presidents Cup folk hero, is having himself a hell of a few months. And it could get even more impressive if he were to figure out a way to claim the title on Sunday at the Shriners Children’s Open in Las Vegas. That would give him two PGA Tour wins before turning 21, something that hasn’t happened on tour since a guy named Tiger Woods came around and accomplished the feat 26 years ago this fall. Not bad for a guy with no PGA Tour status as recently as four months ago.
Kim has yet to make worse than par in his opening 54 holes at TPC Summerlin, posting rounds of 65-67-62 to get to 19 under in what is a tournament generally decided by obscenely low scores. Yet in case you don’t remember, Kim shot a closing 61 to lock up that first PGA Tour title, the Wyndham Championship, in August. He’s not afraid to go low.
He’ll likely have to to claim the $1.44 million first-place prize money payout given the company he has atop the Shriners leaderboard. Patrick Cantlay, who won the first of his eight PGA Tour titles at the 2017 Shriners, shares the lead with Kim entering the final round after shooting a 11-under 60 on Saturday. Cantlay had a chance at a 59 after hitting his approach on the par-4 18th to 24 feet, but missed the birdie try.
With Kim and Cantlay in the same final pairing (along with Matthew NeSmith, who sits three shots back), the chance for a budding rivalry continues. Kim and Cantlay faced each other during last month’s Presidents Cup team sessions. Cantlay and Xander Schuaffele beat Kim and Hideki Matsuyama in Friday four-ball. Kim, however, got some revenge when paired with Si Woo Kim as they defeated Cantlay and Schuaffele in Saturday afternoon four-ball, Tom Kim memorably holing a 10-foot birdie putt on the 18th.
To say this will be a two-player match on Sunday, however, is over simplifying things. Considering the low scores that can be posted in the Vegas desert, anyone from as far back as six off the lead had to think they have a chance at making a comeback charge. That would be 10 golfers chasing Kim and Cantlay a realistic chance.
The overall purse this week in Las Vegas is $8 million. Here’s a break down of the prize money payout for each golfer who made the cut in Las Vegas. We’ll update the list with player names and individual paydays shortly after the end of the tournament.