​In a moment of celebration, Tom Kim buried his face in his hands as emotion surged through him. It had been 1,001 days since he last lifted a trophy on the PGA Tour. At 24 years old, the South Korean — who in 2022 became, at the time, the second-youngest winner on the Tour since World War II and followed it up with a second title two months later — had spent a stretch in the doldrums. There were bursts of brilliance, glimpses that hinted at his immense talent, whether at the Presidents Cup or even at the U.S. Open last month. Yet Kim, known for his sunny disposition and engaging personality, showed a rare, raw emotional side in the scoring tent at the Renaissance Club.
Kim captured the 2026 Genesis Scottish Open on Sunday, finally ending a winless drought that stretched nearly three years and securing his fourth PGA Tour title. He was exceptional in the final round, signing for a 6-under 64 to win by two shots over Min Woo Lee and pushing his career earnings beyond $20 million. He became the first South Korean to win the Scottish Open and just the fourth non-American to win four PGA Tour events before turning 25, joining Rory McIlroy, Sergio Garcia, and Hideki Matsuyama in that exclusive club.
“I played as well as I could down the stretch under the pressure,” Kim said. “I executed when I needed to. I’m very proud of myself for staying calm out there. The last putt, I’ve hit a similar shot many times in my life, in practice, so I told myself it’s the same as at home. This is awesome.”
Kim’s 2025 season had been a struggle, marked by only one top-10 finish and a sense that something was missing. It was hard to overlook the early promise, as he had already logged three PGA Tour wins by 21 and was hailed as one of the Tour’s brightest young stars. There were flashes, yes, but he seemed adrift, and questions lingered about whether he could reclaim the form that propelled him to stardom in 2022, including the Wyndham Championship burst when he began the event with a quadruple bogey and still surged to victory.
He had shown signs of resurgence, contending at the U.S. Open and finishing tied for third, a sign of his growing comfort on the major stages. That momentum carried into the Scottish Open, where he stood out from the start and closed with a bogey-free round, a testament to his focus and resilience. The pivotal moment arrived on the par-4 16th, a hole recognized as the toughest on the course. Kim lofted an iron from 203 yards to six feet, buried the birdie, and moved two strokes clear, setting the tone for his closing run to the clubhouse.
“The second shot at 16 might be the best I’ve hit in my career so far; it’s up there,” Kim said. “There were a lot of key moments.” The walk up the 18th green carried a special weight, a culmination of perseverance and belief that had defined his year.
Kim’s triumph in North Berwick underscored a rebound that had been building for months. After a challenging 2025, he demonstrated the poise and precision that had once made him one of the brightest young players on the PGA Tour. As he soaked in the moment, his expression told the story: relief, pride, and an unyielding determination to keep climbing. With the victory, Kim not only added another title to his résumé but also reasserted himself as a compelling figure in the modern era of the PGA Tour, one whose blend of skill, character, and resilience continues to captivate fans around the world.