4 days ago
PGA Tour Fan Favorite Gets Brutally Honest About Playoff Expectations
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
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Michael Kim is making his BMW Championship debut this week as he continues his quest to reach the TOUR Championship for the first time. It's already been a historic season, one he wasn't entirely sure was within reach at the start of the year.
However, the one-time PGA Tour winner isn't ready to end his current season's run yet.
"I mean, Tour Championship I feel like is the No. 1 goal on everyone's mind at the start of the year, along with top 50 here," Kim told the reporters after finishing the first round at Caves Valley. "To be completely honest, I was probably -- if you had told me I'd be top 50, I would have just signed right there and just watched everyone else play."
"But once I had a really good stretch in that beginning to the middle part of the season, I really wanted to make the push for the Tour Championship, which I've never been to. Yeah, hopefully making that final push."
Michael Kim tees off on hole 8 during the first round of The Ascendant presented by Blue at TPC Colorado on June 30, 2022 in Berthoud, Colorado.
Michael Kim tees off on hole 8 during the first round of The Ascendant presented by Blue at TPC Colorado on June 30, 2022 in Berthoud, more than 191,900 followers on X (formerly Twitter), Kim is one of the most popular players on Tour. He's well known for regularly sharing insights about life on the Tour, as well as golf tips and advice.
Reaching the top 50 in the FedEx Cup rankings not only allowed him to qualify for the BMW Championship for the first time but also guaranteed his PGA Tour card and a spot in the field for all Signature Events for next season.
Meanwhile, reaching the TOUR Championship would guarantee him a very coveted spot in next year's Masters Tournament. It would be his third career start at Augusta National Golf Club.
Kim got off to a strong start in his "final push," carding a 2-under 68 during the first round of the BMW Championship. His performance included four birdies and two bogeys, and he finished tied for seventh, effectively projecting him as a Tour Championship qualifier.
"I felt like every part of my game was pretty solid," he told the reporters about his first round performance. "Only missed like one or two drives off the tee and hit some wedges close. Putted it nice, chipped it pretty nice. Felt like everything was pretty good today."
The 32-year-old has played 25 tournaments this season, with a second-place finish at the WM Phoenix Open and two other top-10 finishes as his best results.
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