The range at Oakmont was nearly empty, the sun dipping low behind the Alleghenies as players wrapped up their prep for the U.S. Open. Most had long since gone home. But Tom Kim was still there — earbuds in, divot lines multiplying, asking questions aloud to no one and everyone. PGATour.com broke it all down.
“I need to bend more?” he muttered after another swing that didn’t feel quite right.
That moment said everything about where Kim is right now — not just as a golfer, but as a 23-year-old trying to navigate the first real adversity of a career that until recently had been nothing but upward momentum.
A Superstar in Freefall
Not long ago, Kim was a can’t-miss. He won twice on the PGA TOUR before turning 21, energized the Presidents Cup with his fiery theatrics, and drew comparisons to Tiger Woods in terms of early-career dominance. He was the face of a new generation — charismatic, wildly talented, and unflinchingly confident.
Now? He’s No. 88 in the FedExCup, outside the playoffs, outside the Signature Events, and very much outside the conversation.
That’s the part that stings the most. Because Tom Kim doesn’t just love winning — he loves being seen. Being in it. Being talked about.
And golf, cruel as ever, has moved on without him.
The Lonely Path of the Searcher
That late-night Oakmont range session was the visual embodiment of a young star grasping for something that might bring back the magic. It wasn’t just technical. It was spiritual.
Kim has been searching for months. He tried changing his swing to fix a nagging right miss. He changed his body, dropping weight and adding strength, which in turn messed with his tempo and feel. Then, he also parted ways with caddie Paul Tesori, isn’t working consistently with any swing coach, and has fallen into the most dangerous trap for any young phenom:
“I’ve been trying to not miss golf shots,” Kim said. “Which is leading to missing more golf shots.”
It’s a mind game, and Kim is playing it against himself.
The Numbers Paint the Picture
The data backs up the story:
- 130th in strokes gained off the tee
- 50th in strokes gained on approach (he was 10th in 2023)
- A slump so steep that he needed a sponsor exemption to get into the Travelers, a tournament he nearly won last year
That’s how fast things shift in golf. One moment you’re the guy, the next you’re trying to find your swing on a driving range while your peers — Scottie Scheffler, Jordan Spieth, Nick Dunlap — soar ahead.
Signs of Life, But Time Is Tight
To Kim’s credit, he’s grinding. He stayed in the Quad Cities after missing the cut at the John Deere Classic, grinding for hours alone. He picked up a swing thought from Jason Day. It helped — he finished T17 at the Genesis Scottish Open, his second top-20 of the year. He’s starting to feel things turn.
But feel doesn’t pay FedExCup points. Results do. And Kim knows it.
“I was top 20 in the world for three years. It’s the first time I haven’t really had much success after a struggle.”
He’s had brief slumps before — as a junior, as a pro in Asia — but never like this. It’s never been where it didn’t feel like it would come right back. Now, he’s got to chase it down.
“I think it’s something I needed,” Kim said, reflecting on the grind. “Getting everything early… I think it’s a good kick in the butt.”
He’s 23. Still immensely talented. Still electric when he finds rhythm. But what he’s facing now isn’t about hitting fairways or making birdies.
It’s about finding himself again — and trusting that the version he finds will be even stronger than the one we all fell in love with.
