What Happened to Tom Kim the Golfer?

If you've followed the PGA Tour over the last couple of years, you've probably wondered, What happened to Tom Kim? After his explosive arrival filled with big wins and infectious energy, his name hasn't been lighting up the top of the leaderboards quite as consistently. This article breaks down his recent journey - from a dramatic ankle injury to the realities of the tour grind - and offers practical takeaways from his experience that can help you with your own game.

From Breakout Star to Household Name

It’s important to first remember just how spectacularly Tom Kim, whose full name is Joohyung Kim, arrived on the scene. It was hard to miss. In 2022, he became the first player since Tiger Woods to win twice on the PGA Tour before turning 21. His victory at the Wyndham Championship, where he opened with a quadruple-bogey and closed with a final-round 61, was the stuff of legend. He followed that up by staring down Patrick Cantlay to win the Shriners Children's Open.

Beyond the wins, his performance at the 2022 Presidents Cup cemented his status as a fan favorite. His raw, unfiltered passion - pumping up the crowd and draining huge putts - was a shot of adrenaline for the sport. Tom Kim wasn't just another talented young player, he was a personality with a game to match. His elite iron play, aggressive strategy, and ever-present smile made it seem like his upward trajectory had no ceiling.

The Ankle Injury at The Open Championship

One of the most significant recent events in Tom’s career happened at the 2023 Open Championship at Royal Liverpool. It was a moment that perfectly captured both his misfortune and his incredible resilience. During the first round, while trying to find his ball in a swampy, muddy native area after an errant tee shot, he slipped and suffered a Grade 1 tear in his ankle.

Most players would have withdrawn. The pain was visible, and his limp was severe. Yet, Tom not only finished the round but continued to play for the entire week, wrapping his ankle heavily and receiving constant treatment from his physio. In what can only be described as a heroic display of grit, he didn't just make the cut, he contended, ultimately finishing in a tie for second place. It was a massive performance on one of golf's biggest stages, all while playing on one good leg.

What We Can Learn from Tom's Toughness (With a Cautionary Note)

As a coach, I admire Tom’s mental fortitude. He showed an elite level of toughness. However, for the amateur golfer, this story comes with a warning. We see pros play through pain and are tempted to do the same. But here's the difference: Tom has a world-class medical team monitoring him 24/7. When we "tough it out," we often create bad habits.

• Swing Compensations: When you're hurt, your body naturally tries to protect the injured area. You might stop rotating your hips properly to protect a sore back or change your footwork to favor a bad ankle. These compensations can become ingrained in your swing, leading to long-term issues that are much harder to fix than the original injury.
• Risk of Further Injury: Pushing through a minor strain can easily turn it into a major tear. What could have been a week of rest becomes months of recovery. For most of us, sitting out a few rounds is a far smarter decision than missing an entire season.

The lesson here is to listen to your body. Playing smart isn't just about course strategy, it's about knowing when to rest and recover so you can enjoy the game for years to come.

Navigating the 'Sophomore Slump': The PGA Tour Grind

After such a blistering start, a leveling-off period was almost inevitable. What some might call a "sophomore slump" is often just the harsh reality of the PGA Tour settling in. The season is a marathon, not a sprint, and maintaining that peak performance week after week is nearly impossible, especially for a young player still adjusting to new courses, travel schedules, and immense expectations.

Opponents also adapt. When you're a new phenomenon, you have an element of surprise. But now, there’s extensive video of Tom's game. Competitors and caddies understand his tendencies and strengths better. The surprise is gone, replaced by the relentless challenge of executing under pressure every single week.

It's also worth noting he made a caddie change in late 2023, parting ways with the veteran looper Joe Skovron, who was on the bag for his big wins. The player-caddie relationship is a massive part of a professional’s success, and finding a new rhythm takes time. This isn't a sign of trouble, but rather a normal part of a player's evolution as they figure out what they need to succeed long-term.

Your Own 'Slumps' and How to Handle Them

Every golfer, regardless of skill level, goes through slumps. One week, you feel like you've figured it all out, the next, you can't find the clubfaceSkew, this: What would you do?. It's a frustrating but universal part of the game. When you find yourself in a funk, remember these things:

• Don't Panic: Bad rounds happen. Golf is a hard game. Avoid the temptation to overhaul your entire swing after one or two poor outings. Panic leads to "tip-stacking" - trying to incorporate ten different YouTube tips at once, which only creates more confusion.
• Return to the Basics: Instead of searching for a complex fix, check your fundamentals. How's your grip? Is your alignment solid? Are you balanced in your setup? Often, slumps start with a small, basic element drifting out of place.
• Set Smaller Goals: Forget about your score for a round or two. Focus on one simple, process-oriented goal. For example: "Today, my only goal is to make a confident, balanced follow-through on every shot." Or, "I'm going to focus on hitting the center of the fairway, even if it means using a 3-wood instead of a driver." This takes the pressure off and helps you build back confidence.

So... Where's His Game Really At?

The simple answer is that Tom Kim is still an elite golfer who is experiencing the natural ebbs and flows of a professional career. "What happened to him" is that he’s become a human, not a highlight-reel machine every single week. He is working through the fine margins that separate winning from a T-20 finish on the PGA Tour.

Dissecting the Numbers: A Look at the Data

If we look past the headlines and glance at his statistics, a clearer picture emerges. Tom Kim’s iron play, measured by Strokes Gained: Approach, remains world-class. He's still one of the very best in the world at hitting it close to the hole. That fundamental strength hasn't gone anywhere.

However, his game off the tee has been slightly less consistent. A few more wayward drives put added pressure on the rest of his game. Similarly, his putting, while never a glaring weakness, hasn't been as consistently hot as it was during his winning streaks. When you combine slightly less accuracy with the driver with a cooler putter, you get fewer birdie opportunities and a harder time scrambling for pars. This is the difference between shooting -15 and shooting -8. He’s not lost, he’s simply navigating the fine-tuning process.

Why Tracking Your Own Stats Matters

This is a great lesson for amateurs. So many golfers go to the range and just hit balls aimlessly because they *feel* like their entire game is broken. But just like Tom, your slump likely isn’t caused by everything being wrong.

Try some simple stat tracking in your next few rounds. Don't get fancy. Just track:

• Fairways Hit (and which way you miss)
• Greens in Regulation
• Number of Putts
• Penalty Strokes

After a few rounds, you'll see a pattern. You might think your putting is terrible, but the data could show the real problem is your approach shots are consistently leaving you 40-foot putts. This insight allows you to practice with a purpose instead of just guessing.

The Bottom Line: Don't Count Him Out

So, what happened to Tom Kim the golfer? Nothing. He’s growing up. He is enduring injuries, learning to manage the 12-month grind of a global schedule, and maturing as a professional athlete. This period of quieter results isn’t a sign of a demise, it’s the foundation-building phase for a long and successful career.

His work ethic is legendary, his talent is undeniable, and at just 22 years old, his best golf is almost certainly still ahead of him. He is still a top player who has the firepower to win any tournament he enters. This is just a new chapter in his story, and it’s one golfers of all levels can relate to: navigating adversity, trusting the process, and understanding that progress is never a straight line.

Final Thoughts

In short, Tom Kim hasn't disappeared. He has been navigating a nagging injury, the mental fatigue of the PGA Tour, and the normal adjustments that every young professional faces. He remains a brilliant talent with one of the most solid foundations in golf, and he is simply in a phase of growth rather than a state of decline.

Just as Tom relies on professionals and hard data to fine-tune his game and strategize on the course, you too can get expert guidance to manage your own rounds. Our app, Caddie AI, acts as your on-demand golf coach, ready to help with your biggest on-course questions. When you're facing a tricky shot or an uncertain decision - like figuring out the best club for a weird lie in the rough - you can even snap a photo and get a smart recommendation in seconds. It's designed to take the guesswork out of difficult situations so you can play with more confidence and turn those moments of doubt into smarter, more committed shots.