'I’m very proud for being calm out there': Tom Kim claims Scottish Open success

Tom Kim of Korea lifts the Genesis Scottish Open Trophy. Pic: Malcolm Mackenzie/PA Wire.

Tom Kim produced a bogey-free final round to take victory at the Genesis Scottish Open on Sunday.

The 24-year-old South Korean became a Rolex Series winner for the first time and picked up a victory for the first time in 1,001 days.

Kim was in fine form at the Renaissance Club and he carded an impressive final round of 64 to put his name at the top of the leaderboard and two shots in front of Min Woo Lee in second.

He also finished four shots ahead of England’s Matt Fitzpatrick and Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre, who had a share of third with Johnny Keefer and Keita Nakajima.

He earned his fourth title on the PGA Tour, having previously won the Shriners Children’s Open in both 2022 and 2023 and the 2022 Wyndham Championship, and is now guaranteed a spot at the 2027 Masters.

Fitzpatrick and MacIntyre shared the lead coming into the final day but both carded a one-under par 69 which was not enough for the pair of them to hold on.

Kim birdied three times on the front nine to put himself in contention for the victory and tightened his grip with another trio of birdies on the back nine, including one on the 16th which gave him a two-shot lead going into the final two holes.

Lee missed a birdie on the 17th which essentially handed Kim the title, and a simple par putt on the 18th hole ensured he was the winner of the Scottish Open.

Rory McIlroy showed positive signs ahead The Open Championship which gets underway at Royal Birkdale next week with an impressive Sunday, he slotted five birdies in his first seven holes to propel him up the leaderboard, and a final-round 64 matched his lowest of the season and lifted him to a tied-seventh with Michael Thorbjornsen.

After earning victory, Kim said on Sky Sports: “This one is up there. I played probably as good as I could have with the pressure and executed when I needed to. I’m very proud for being calm out there and there.

“This is awesome. There were a lot of key moments.

“I am trying to get better each day. I’ve had a tough couple of last years and I got to taste a lot of humble pie and learn about myself. I’ve still got a long way to go but I wanted to dedicate this to the people in my corner all the time. To all those people I’d like to say thank you.”