2 S. Koreans vying for US$10 mln jackpot at PGA Tour playoff finale

SEOUL, Aug. 25 (Yonhap) -- Two South Korean golfers, Kim Si-woo and Tom Kim, are set to compete in the PGA Tour's prestigious Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, with a hefty US$10 million prize at stake. The event, starting Thursday, will see 30 players battling it out, all having qualified after the BMW Championship last week.

Kim Si-woo, currently ranked fifth in the FedEx Cup standings, will be playing in his first Tour Championship since 2023. Despite having no victories this year, he boasts an impressive 11 top-10 finishes and leads the tour with 51 rounds in the 60s, along with 62 under-par rounds. His consistency throughout the year is remarkable.

Tom Kim, on the other hand, is the only South Korean player to have won on the PGA Tour this year, securing the Genesis Scottish Open title in July. This victory marks his first since October 2023. He currently stands at 29th place in FedEx Cup points.

Both golfers will be playing in their first Tour Championship since 2023, a tournament that has seen significant changes. East Lake Golf Club underwent a $30 million renovation, and the PGA Tour eliminated the starting strokes system, making the competition more level. The total purse for the event is $40 million, making it the most lucrative tournament of the year.

The winner will take home a substantial US$10 million. Only four players have so far made more than $10 million this season, with Kim Si-woo having earned approximately $9.7 million and Tom Kim around $4.8 million.