Kim Ju-hyung poses with the winner's trophy. [Photo=DP World Tour]
Kim Ju-hyung poses with the winner's trophy. [Photo=DP World Tour]

When the winning putt dropped, Kim Ju-hyung buried his face in both hands. The emotions of more than two and a half years came rushing out all at once — exactly 1,001 days after he had last lifted a PGA Tour trophy.

Kim carded a flawless, bogey-free 6-under 64 in the final round Monday (Korean Standard Time) at Renaissance Club in North Berwick, Scotland (par 70, 7,282 yards), finishing at 17-under 263 to beat Australian-Korean Lee Min-woo by two strokes and claim the Genesis Scottish Open title.

The victory ended a 33-month winless stretch dating to his Shriners Children's Open title in October 2023, giving Kim his fourth career PGA Tour win. He is the first Korean player to win the Genesis Scottish Open.

"Tears just started flowing on their own as I signed my scorecard after the final putt," Kim said in his post-round interview. "Those 33 months between my last win in October 2023 and today were the hardest and longest stretch of my golfing life. The attention and expectations that came with early success brought enormous pressure. There were times I would freeze up at address because of it, and my confidence hit rock bottom. I still can't believe I fought through all of that and made it back to the top."

Kim also reflected on the tournament's special place in his career. "This event is my 'promised land,'" he said. "I came here as an invited player in 2022, finished third, and used that as a springboard straight onto the PGA Tour. To finally lift the trophy at the tournament where it all began and announce my comeback — it's an incredibly moving feeling. I want to sincerely thank title sponsor Hyundai Motor and all the Korean fans who cheered me on."

The slump that followed Kim's third tour win had been deep. It set in after he lost in a playoff to An Byeong-hun at the DP World Tour's Genesis Championship held in Korea. A solo third-place finish at last month's US Open had signaled a revival, but the emotional weight hidden behind his characteristically upbeat demeanor ultimately spilled out in tears on Monday.

The win also etched Kim's name into the PGA Tour record books. His career earnings surpassed $20 million, and he became only the fourth non-American player to win four PGA Tour titles before turning 25. The only others to have achieved that feat are Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, Sergio Garcia of Spain and Hideki Matsuyama of Japan.

Last year had been a difficult one for Kim. He managed just one top-10 finish and looked to have lost his competitive edge. Having already won three times on the PGA Tour by age 21, the depth of his slump felt all the more pronounced. Questions arose about whether he could recapture the explosive form that had seen him win the 2022 Wyndham Championship despite making a quadruple bogey on the first hole.

The turning point came at last month's US Open. Kim stayed near the top of the leaderboard throughout the week and finished in sole third place. Though he trailed winner Wyndham Clark of the United States, it was his first serious title contention in a long time and fired the opening shot of his comeback.

In the final round Monday, Kim was the only player in the field to go bogey-free. The decisive moment came at the par-4 16th, the most difficult hole over the final two days. With 203 yards to the flag, Kim stuck his iron shot to within 1.8 meters of the cup and converted the crucial birdie. "The second shot I hit on 16 is probably one of the best shots of my entire career," he said afterward. "That's a moment I'll carry with me for a long time."

The victory stands as the most significant of Kim's career. Having shed the weight of prolonged pressure, it is expected to serve as a springboard for even greater things ahead. The maturity he gained by living through the highs and lows of professional golf — moving past the overconfidence of his early years — proved to be the driving force behind this win.

"I've had to eat a lot of humble pie," Kim said. "Through that process I learned so much about myself, and I'm still trying to grow and keep learning. I still have a long way to go. But this win — I want to dedicate it to the people who stood by me, suffered alongside me, and celebrated with me when I needed it most."

Fellow Korean Kim Si-woo shot a final-round 4-under 66 to finish at 11-under 269, tying with Victor Perez of France for ninth place.


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