The Joyful "Promised Land" Where He Became the Youngest Champion in 2017
Challenging for His Fifth Career Win Since the 2023 Sony Open
"I Noticed the Trophy Design Has Changed... I Want to Collect Them Again"
Kim Si-woo expressed his determination to collect championship trophies in the "Promised Land."
On the 12th (local time), a day before the opening of The Players Championship, the fifth major tournament, Kim said in an interview with the PGA Tour, "The Players Championship is the biggest tournament I have won," adding, "Looking back now, I realize it was an amazing victory. That's why I want to win again."
Kim Si-woo won this tournament in 2017 at the age of 21 years and 11 months, breaking the previous youngest winner record of 23 years and 8 months set by Adam Scott (Australia) in 2004. He also became the second Korean player to win The Players Championship after K.J. Choi. He vowed, "As the tournament has developed and the prize money has increased, I will work hard to revive the good memories from that time."
The Players Championship is a prestigious tournament with a total prize money of $25 million (approximately 36.3 billion KRW), which is more than the four major championships. That is why it is called the "fifth major." Kim Si-woo has recorded four wins on the PGA Tour. Following his 2023 Sony Open victory, he aims to win again after two years. His performance this season has been steady, finishing 12th at last month's AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, tied for 21st at the Phoenix Open, tied for 24th at the Genesis Invitational, and tied for 19th at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
The Players Championship is held at TPC Sawgrass (par 72, 7,352 yards) in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. The final holes 16 to 18 are known for their difficulty. In particular, the 17th hole (par 3), surrounded by a pond, is considered the most challenging hole to play on the PGA Tour. Kim said, "Holes 16 to 18 have hazards, so it becomes very difficult when the wind blows," adding, "Especially at the 17th hole, you have to carefully calculate the wind and distance, but I remember playing better than I expected," showing confidence.
Kim Si-woo said he would approach this tournament with a relaxed mindset rather than feeling the pressure to win. He said, "When I won eight years ago, I was a bold second-year rookie who knew nothing," and added, "Now that I have a family (wife and son), the stress related to golf has decreased." He continued, "If I get impatient, my skills don't come out, so I will just focus on each shot and seize the opportunity to win when it comes," smiling as he said, "The design of the championship trophy has changed recently, and I want to collect the new trophies."
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