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When Tom Kim won for the third time on the PGA Tour in October 2023, capturing the Shriners Children’s Open for the second straight year, many fans assumed the floodgates would open for the young phenom.
But Kim had not returned to the winner’s circle since that victory.
Until Sunday.
Tom Kim shot a 64 in the final round of the 2026 Genesis Scottish Open to capture his first PGA Tour victory since 2023. (Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
The 24-year-old South Korean closed with a brilliant 64, tied for the low round of the day, in the final round of the Genesis Scottish Open for his first PGA Tour victory in nearly three years.
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Kim had a good week at the Renaissance Club in North Berwick, Scotland, opening with a five-under 65 in the first round before shooting a 66 in the second round to share the lead at the halfway point of the tournament with Rory McIlroy and Jordan Smith.
However, McIlroy and Smith struggled in the fog-delayed third round (73 and 72, respectively), while Kim kept the momentum going with another under-par round (68). The weekend schedule was complicated by fog delays, and third-round play was extended into Sunday morning before the final round began.
Kim was one shot behind Matt Fitzpatrick heading into the fourth round, but the 24-year-old quickly made up the difference with birdies on three of his first seven holes.
Tom Kim wins the 2026 Genesis Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick, Scotland. (Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Min Woo Lee made a late charge, cutting Kim’s lead to one shot with just a few holes remaining, but Kim made a beautiful approach on the par-4 16th to set up his sixth birdie of the day and finally put himself out of reach of the rest of the field.
And the victory also comes at a great time.
After playing in every major tournament from 2023-25, Kim failed to qualify for either the 2026 Masters or the PGA Championship before posting an impressive third-place finish at the US Open. Kim won’t have to worry about qualifying for the Masters or the PGA next year, as victory at the Scottish Open guarantees a place in both next season. His third-place finish at the US Open also earned him an automatic bid to the 2027 US Open.
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The win also gives Kim momentum heading into the 2026 Open Championship. He finished tied for second at the 2023 Open, but failed to make the cut in either 2024 or 2025. However, his game is in a much better place than in either of the last two seasons.
Kim has made the cut in 15 of the 17 events she has played this year, plus she has victory at the Scottish Open and third place at the US Open to remind us of the immense talent she has always possessed.
South Korean Tom Kim recorded sub-par rounds in all four rounds of the 2026 Genesis Scottish Open. (Tracy Wilcox/PGA TOUR via Getty Images)
Kim won his first two PGA Tour events at age 20, becoming the first player since Tiger Woods in 1996 to win twice before turning 21.
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The third victory at age 21 seemed to put him on the fast track to PGA Tour success. But as is the case with many young golfers, Kim hit a rough patch after the October 2023 victory at the Shriners. He had just three top-10 finishes in 2024 and 2025 combined, with zero wins and no top-25 finishes in any of the eight majors (after top-10 finishes at both the US Open and the 2023 Open Championship).
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Now it’s fair to wonder if that streak is completely behind us for Kim, who has struggled for consistency since bursting onto the scene in 2022.
The first chance he will have to show that this week was not a one-off is at Royal Birkdale for the Open Championship 2026, which begins on Thursday.
