Two Koreans to compete for $10 million jackpot at PGA Tour playoff finale
Kim Si-woo is No. 5 in the FedEx Cup standings, the only player in the top seven without a victory this year. Tom Kim ranks 29th after the BMW Championship.
Both Kims — unrelated — will play in their first Tour Championship since 2023.
Kim Si-woo is No. 5 in the FedEx Cup standings, the only player in the top seven without a victory this year. He has recorded 11 top-10 finishes, the second-highest total behind only world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who has had a dozen top-10s.
A model of consistency all year, Kim Si-woo also leads the tour with 51 rounds in the 60s and 62 under-par rounds.
Tom Kim is the only Korean player to win on the PGA Tour this year, having claimed the Genesis Scottish Open title in July for his first victory since October 2023. He ranked 29th in FedEx Cup points after the BMW Championship.
Tom Kim tees off on the eighth hole during the second round of the BMW Championship at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis on Aug. 21.GETTY IMAGES
These two Koreans tied for 20th place at their previous Tour Championship appearance in 2023. Both East Lake Golf Club and the tournament format have significantly changed since then.
Immediately after the 2023 Tour Championship, East Lake spent $30 million on renovations to tees, fairways, greens and bunkers. The PGA Tour also eliminated the “starting strokes” system last year. Until 2024, the leader in FedEx Cup points started the Tour Championship at 10-under, with No. 2 beginning at eight-under and so forth. Higher-ranked players no longer enjoy a massive advantage, with everyone starting from zero now.
With the total purse of $40 million, the Tour Championship is the most lucrative tournament of the year. The winner will take home $10 million.
Only four players have made more than $10 million so far this season. Kim Si-woo has earned about $9.7 million, and Tom Kim has collected around $4.8 million.
