English teenager Kris Kim has one other likelihood to check his sport in opposition to the world’s finest this week in The CJ Cup Byron Nelson, a 12 months from a PGA Tour debut to recollect in Texas.
Kim has been handed a sponsor’s exemption by CJ Group – who additionally sponsor him individually – to tee it up once more at TPC Craig Ranch, the place world No 1 Scottie Scheffler headlines a powerful area that additionally accommodates three-time main winner Jordan Spieth.
The newbie created headlines in final 12 months’s contest, the place he grew to become the youngest European participant ever to make a minimize on the PGA Tour, the fifth youngest in historical past and first 16-year-old to achieve the weekend since 2015.
Kim put his GCSE revision on maintain 12 months in the past to complete in sixty fifth place, as Taylor Pendrith claimed a one-shot victory, with the 17-year-old seeking to construct on final 12 months’s historic efficiency and impress as soon as once more.
“It was so much fun the first time I just want to experience it all again – all four days of it,” Kim stated.
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English newbie star Kris Kim made a formidable begin at The CJ CUP Byron Nelson in 2024, carding an opening-round 68
On the examination outcomes, Kim added: “I did alright with my results except for Religious Studies – I revised the entirely wrong subject for that one!”
Kim wanted a par on the par-five 18th gap in his second spherical final 12 months to make the minimize and confirmed composure past his years to supply a sixth birdie of the day and safely attain the weekend.
Kris Kim is the primary recipient of a brand new elite scholarship from the Wentworth Basis.
“There’s always going to be nerves when you’re on the cut – it being a par-five was helpful,” Kim confessed afterwards, having resisted going for the inexperienced in two and laying as much as arrange his six-foot birdie.
Kim is already a a number of winner at age-group stage, together with the 2023 R&A Boys Novice Championship, with {the teenager} undefeated in Europe’s Junior Ryder Cup triumph later that 12 months and lately making his England males’s debut of their biennial conflict with Spain.
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Simon Holmes analysed 16-year-old Kris Kim’s excellent swing throughout his debut look at The CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Kim will as soon as once more have LPGA Tour star Rose Zhang’s common caddie Olly Brett on the bag for his PGA Tour return, whereas he continues to have the assist of his mum Ji-Hyun Suh – one of many early Korean pioneers on the LPGA Tour within the Nineteen Nineties.
The pair had a light-hearted disagreement about how nicely he would have carried out on this 12 months’s Masters, with Kim seeking to take inspiration from Rory McIlroy’s Grand Slam success when looking for enhancements in his personal sport.
“She thought I’d miss the cut,” Kim joked. “Thanks mum! I feel I might have performed the weekend.
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Watch highlights of Rory McIlroy’s rollercoaster ultimate spherical at The Masters, the place he claimed Grand Slam glory after play-off victory
“I don’t really watch golf but how could I not watch that? I was watching from bed and it was so cool. When Rory hit it in the bunkers on the first two holes I thought it might not be his day again.
“It is inspirational to see someone knocked down so typically and maintain getting up. His driving is his nice talent and that basically conjures up me to get higher from the tee. It units him aside. I like shot-shaping and his strategy shot to fifteen when he was behind the tree simply blew my thoughts.”
Who will win The CJ Cup Byron Nelson? Watch throughout the week live on Sky Sports. Early coverage begins on Thursday from 12.45pm on Sky Sports Golf ahead of full coverage from 9pm. Get Sky Sports activities or stream with NOW.
