GUYANCOURT, France, Aug. 1 (Yonhap) — PGA Tour star Tom Kim found himself three strokes off the lead after the opening round of the men’s golf tournament at the Paris Olympics on Thursday.
Kim, whose Korean birth name is Joo-hyung, fired a bogey-free round of five-under 66 in the first round at Le Golf National in Guyancourt, just south of Paris.
Hideki Matsuyama of Japan, the 2021 Masters champion, is alone at the top after shooting an eight-under 63. Xander Schauffele of the United States, the defending Olympic champion and a two-time major winner this year, is in second place at six-under 65.
Kim is tied for third with two other players, Joaquin Niemann of Chile and Emiliano Grillo of Argentina.
Tom Kim of South Korea tees off on the first hole during the first round of the men’s golf tournament at the Paris Olympics at Le Golf National in Guyancourt, France, on Aug. 1, 2024. (Yonhap)
An Byeong-hun, the one other South Korean in the field and also a PGA Tour player, had three birdies and four bogeys for a round of one-over 72, which put him in sole possession of 48th place among 60 players.
Kim said he was mostly pleased with his first-ever Olympic round, which featured four birdies on the front nine and one more on the back nine.
“I played a steady round of golf and I escaped trouble well,” he said. “I think I can maintain this moment for the next three days.”
Kim said having played on the same course last September for the Cazoo Open de France, where he tied for sixth place, helped with his preparation.
“It’s not a particularly long course but you have to be precise. Tee shots and second shots both require great focus,” Kim said. “I played some smart golf today and I will try to keep this up.”
Tom Kim of South Korea hits out of a bunker on the third hole during the first round of the men’s golf tournament at the Paris Olympics at Le Golf National in Guyancourt, France, on Aug. 1, 2024. (Yonhap)
Kim averted a disaster on the par-3 16th, where he shanked his tee shot to way right but got up and down for par.
“It was probably my first shank as a pro. I was pretty surprised myself,” Kim said with a smile. “The second shot was more difficult but I got it on the green, and made a confident stroke with my putter.”
Kim said he fed off the energy of South Korean fans along the ropes and he wants to return their love and support with a gold medal.
“If I were to win a medal, I might as well go for the gold, rather than silver or bronze,” Kim said. “I’d love to stand on the podium and listen to our national anthem.”
An Byeong-hun of South Korea tees off on the first hole during the first round of the men’s golf tournament at the Paris Olympics at Le Golf National in Guyancourt, France, on Aug. 1, 2024. (Yonhap)
An had an adventurous finish to his round. Play was suspended around 4:30 p.m. due to a storm in the local area, soon after An had put his tee shot on the 18th hole in a bunker.
The round resumed at 5:05 p.m., and An sent his second shot into water. He ended up making bogey on that hole.
“Waiting for 30 minutes wasn’t so bad. It was warm out there and I didn’t even have to warm up,” An said. “At least I finished my round today.”
An birdied the first three holes but didn’t have another birdie the rest of the way. He bogeyed the fourth, 12th, 13th and 18th.
“My ball striking was a little bit off, and I didn’t give myself too many birdie opportunities,” he said. “I only had a couple of chances to make birdie from the fourth hole and on. But it could have been even worse.
“We have three more days to play. If I can get my ball striking in order, I should have my opportunity,” he continued. “The key is to hold steady even if you have a bad couple of days. We’ll be playing all four days here (without a cut). We saw an eight-under today, and I think I am capable of putting up a good score, too.”
Golf returned to the Olympic Games in 2016 after 112 years away, and South Korea has not yet produced a male medalist. LPGA Tour Hall of Famer Park In-bee won the women’s gold medal in 2016.
An finished tied for 11th in 2016, and it remains the best Olympic showing by a South Korean male golfer.
“Inside the ropes, it felt no different than regular tour events. But on the first tee, I saw a lot of Korean fans,” An said. “It really hit me that I was here representing the country.”
An Byeong-hun of South Korea hits a shot toward the first green during the first round of the men’s golf tournament at the Paris Olympics at Le Golf National in Guyancourt, France, on Aug. 1, 2024. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)
