Trio brings combined eight appearances — International team trails US 1-1-13 all time

Kim Si-woo, Im Sung-jae and Kim Ju-hyung (from left) are set to compete at the Presidents Cup starting Thursday. [Getty Images]
Kim Si-woo, Im Sung-jae and Kim Ju-hyung (from left) are set to compete at the Presidents Cup starting Thursday. [Getty Images]

Kim Si-woo, Im Sung-jae and Kim Ju-hyung will serve as the backbone of the International team as it takes on the dominant United States squad.

The three South Korean golfers will compete in the Presidents Cup, a team match-play event held over four days starting Thursday at the No. 3 Course (par 70) of Medinah Country Club in Chicago, Illinois.

The Presidents Cup pits the US against an International team — drawn from all countries except the United States and European nations — in a biennial competition. The event comprises 30 matches in total: nine foursomes, nine fourballs and 12 singles match-play contests. A win earns one point, a halve earns half a point, and a loss yields nothing. The first team to reach 15.5 points wins the cup.

This is the fourth Presidents Cup appearance for Kim Si-woo and Im, and the third for Kim Ju-hyung. In past editions, Kim Si-woo holds a 6-5 record, Im stands at 6-7-2 and Kim Ju-hyung is 3-5-1. The three players have combined for 15 wins.

Kim Si-woo and Im have each appeared in three editions through the 2024 event, cementing their status as cornerstones of the International team. Kim Ju-hyung, 24, has also made his presence felt across two appearances.

The pressure on the Korean trio is considerable. The International team has won just once against the United States in Presidents Cup history, with a record of 1 win, 1 tie and 13 losses. This year they must again overcome a formidable US side that includes world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, Collin Morikawa, Xander Schauffele, Justin Thomas and Patrick Cantlay.

Joining the Korean players on the International team are Hideki Matsuyama of Japan, Adam Scott of Australia, and Ryan Fox of New Zealand, who won the British Open this year.


yjc@heraldcorp.com