Kim Ju-hyung holds the trophy after winning the PGA Tour Genesis Scottish Open at Renaissance Club in North Berwick, Scotland, on Monday (Korean Standard Time). [Getty Images]
Kim Ju-hyung holds the trophy after winning the PGA Tour Genesis Scottish Open at Renaissance Club in North Berwick, Scotland, on Monday (Korean Standard Time). [Getty Images]

Kim Ju-hyung, 24, broke a 33-month winless streak by claiming the PGA Tour Genesis Scottish Open, which carried a purse of $9 million.

Kim carded a bogey-free 6-under on the final day Monday (Korean Standard Time) at Renaissance Club (par 70) in North Berwick, Scotland, making six birdies without a dropped shot.

His total of 17-under-par 263 beat Australian-Korean Min Woo Lee — who finished at 15-under-par 265 — by two strokes. The victory, Kim's fourth on the PGA Tour, ended a long slump that had set in after his win at the 2023 Shriners Children's Open, with the title coming 2 years and 9 months later and earning him a first-place check of 1.2 million pounds (about 2.4 billion won).

Kim had endured considerable mental anguish in the years since his 2023 Shriners win, unable to add to his tally. Visibly emotional at the trophy ceremony, he said: "I've spent some really tough years and tasted some truly bitter defeats. I'm still trying to grow and keep learning."

Kim burst onto the PGA Tour in 2022 at just 20 years and three months old, and his wins that year at the 2022 Shriners Children's Open and the Wyndham Championship drew comparisons to Tiger Woods.

But early success was followed by early adversity. After his 2023 Shriners title, costly mistakes at crucial moments kept him from winning again. In 2025, he began showing symptoms of the yips — his body freezing up at address.

This season had been similarly underwhelming until a solo third-place finish at last month's US Open signaled a revival. He then completed the turnaround with a come-from-behind win at the Scottish Open.

Kim Ju-hyung raises his hand at the trophy ceremony after winning the Scottish Open on Monday. [Getty Images]
Kim Ju-hyung raises his hand at the trophy ceremony after winning the Scottish Open on Monday. [Getty Images]

Kim maintained his focus throughout a grueling day that required him to complete the remaining holes of the third round before playing all 18 of the fourth. Starting the final round tied for fourth, one stroke off the lead, he made three birdies on the front nine before sinking a 4.5-meter birdie putt on the par-4 10th to move into sole possession of the lead by two strokes. He added birdies on the par-5 12th and the par-4 16th, then closed out with a par on the par-4 18th.

Buoyed by the win, Kim will now take aim at The Open Championship, which begins Thursday. He also secured a spot in next year's Masters Tournament and moved up to 32nd in the FedEx Cup standings after collecting 500 points.

Fellow Korean Kim Si-woo shot a final-round 4-under to finish at 11-under-par 269, good for a tie for ninth. World No. 2 Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland finished tied for seventh at 12-under-par 268.


yjc@heraldcorp.com