Strong Determination Expressed at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson Interview
Perfect Recovery of Precision Shots After Adjusting Iron Loft
Paired with Scheffler and Spieth for Rounds 1 and 2
Siwoo Kim expressed his determination to win at the tournament sponsored by his backer.
At the official press conference for the PGA Tour's CJ Cup Byron Nelson (total prize money of $9.9 million), held on April 30 (local time) at TPC Craig Ranch (par 71, 7,569 yards) near Dallas, Texas, Kim said, "I feel proud that my sponsor's tournament is being held on the PGA Tour," adding, "It would be great to become the first player to win at my sponsor's tournament."
Since turning professional in 2012, Kim has received support from CJ Group for 12 years, starting in 2013. "I've received a lot of support," he said. "I'm happy to be able to participate in my sponsor's tournament. I'm very proud, and I'm even more excited this week because there are many Korean players competing," he said with a smile.
In this tournament, which begins on May 1, Kim will play alongside Scottie Scheffler and Jordan Spieth, both from the United States. Kim said, "I think it's going to be a really fun two days," and added, "I'll be playing with the world No. 1 (Scheffler) and a former world No. 1 (Spieth). I think I can learn a lot from them."
Kim is considered one of the favorites to win, alongside players like Scheffler and Im Sungjae. Since he lives in Dallas, he has easy access to the tournament venue. He explained, "Since my home is nearby, I feel mentally at ease. Traveling by plane for tournaments is always tough. I don't know if it's necessarily an advantage, but it's definitely easier to commute from home."
He has been in good form recently and is aiming for his fifth career win since the 2023 Sony Open. "After adjusting the loft on my irons, I've gained more confidence," Kim analyzed. "I've reduced the tendency to decelerate to match the distance, which has improved my scores."
Ahead of this tournament, Kim played practice rounds with domestic rising star Choi Seungbin, as well as An Byeonghun and Kang Sunghoon. He said, "It feels like all the Korean players are better than me. We played in a fun atmosphere and joked around a lot." Regarding Choi Seungbin, he recalled, "When he came to Q-School before, we played a round near my house. He asked me about approach shots then, but since we only had a day, I couldn't teach him much. Still, I'm glad it seems to have helped."
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