English teenager Kris Kim made a splash in the golfing world during his PGA Tour debut by becoming the youngest player to make the cut on tour in nine years. He also set a record as the youngest ever at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, surpassing Jordan Spieth’s previous record set in 2010. Kim, just 16 years old and an amateur, impressed with a three-under-68 first round and a four-under-67 second round at the tournament in McKinney, Texas.
Despite feeling nervous on the 18th hole, Kim managed to sink a birdie putt to secure his spot in the cut. He expressed his joy at being able to play for two more days, highlighting how much he has enjoyed the experience. Kim was introduced to golf at a young age by his mother, Ji-Hyun Suh, a former professional golfer who now coaches his swing. He has had a successful amateur career, winning numerous championships.
After stepping up to the PGA Tour, Kim currently sits in a tie for 36th place, seven shots behind the overnight leader Jake Knapp. Knapp’s stellar performance in the second round pushed him ahead of second-place contenders Matt Wallace and Troy Merritt. Meanwhile, Spieth, whose record Kim broke, failed to make the cut due to a wrist injury.
Kim will tee off for the third round on Saturday morning, while the final pairing of Knapp and Merritt will tee off in the afternoon. The young golfer’s impressive debut has captivated the golfing world and positioned him as a rising star in the sport.