Si Woo's Sunday Showdown: Kim Sets Sights on Harbour Town Glory
South Korean star seeks redemption and Masters return with sparkling RBC Heritage performance
Seoul, Korea - Si Woo Kim's gentle wave of the hand as his final putt slipped by on Saturday at Harbour Town Golf Links said it all—a mere hiccup amid brilliance. At 15-under par, Kim takes a slim one-shot lead into Sunday's finale at the US$20 million RBC Heritage, edging tantalisingly close to his fifth PGA TOUR title.
The 29-year-old dazzled again with his irons, hitting a 5-under 66 that featured six birdies before the solitary closing bogey crept in. “It's not a big deal,” Kim laughed off afterwards, clearly at ease despite the minor slip. “I played pretty much 35 holes really decent. So I’m not worrying about that last hole for tomorrow.”
Behind him looms the formidable Justin Thomas, whose late birdie shifted momentum, narrowing the gap to just one. Thomas knows all about pressure; his timely putt on the 18th hole reignited a battle-ready spirit. “That birdie was huge,” Thomas acknowledged. He stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Andrew Novak, both ready to pounce at 14-under.
But the spotlight belongs to Kim, chasing not just a victory, but vindication. Missing The Masters for the first time in nearly a decade has clearly lit a fire within. A win here secures a coveted return to Augusta National next April, a prize perhaps sweeter than the trophy itself.
“I've been playing good. Especially iron play is really good this week," Kim explained, attributing his surge to subtle tweaks in his equipment. "I switched irons back to normal loft—it's helping with consistent distance control and lots of birdie chances."
Harbour Town holds bittersweet memories for Kim. Five years ago, he narrowly missed out, defeated in a playoff by Japan’s Satoshi Kodaira. Now, redemption is at hand. One solid round, one more dance with destiny. Si Woo Kim stands poised, calm, and utterly determined to rewrite the story’s ending.