Tom Kim Lost His FedEx Cup Aspirations After a Three-Hole Meltdown for the Ages

With the PGA Tour’s new classification system wrapping up its first full year, an argument could be made that the first playoff event will have more drama than next week’s BMW Championship or the Tour Championship the following week.

That’s because at the end of the FedEx St. Jude Championship, the FedEx Cup playoff field was whittled down from 70 to 50, and those top 50 also qualify for the majors, the Players Championship, and all eight big-money Signature Events on the PGA Tour in 2025. 

Defending FedEx Cup champ Viktor Hovland came through with his best finish of the season—tying for runner-up with Xander Schauffele. 

On the flip side, Tom Kim did not. 

Kim, who won the Wyndham Championship two years ago to reach the playoffs, started the weekend in 43rd and was looking safe to advance with three holes to play.

But after a bogey on the par-5 16th, Kim carded back-to-back double-bogey 6’s on Nos. 17 and 18 to fall out of the top 50 by one spot.

• Bogey on the 16th hole
• Double on the 17th hole
• Double on the 18th hole

Tom Kim was 46th in the #FedExCup standings on the 16th tee.

He’s now projected 51st. pic.twitter.com/QL1oSGcjmQ

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 18, 2024

Kim talked about what has been a tough season:

“This season has just been — it’s just been like this. I’ve played really good golf, and then had some tough finishes. I feel like 2024 has really kicked me in the butt. But I’ve gotten so much better. I’ve fought really hard just to get myself in this situation. I was 90-something before we went on this run. But it is what it is.”

Kim will likely play in the majors since he currently stands at No. 18 in the Official World Golf Ranking, which will put him in the field if he stays inside the Top 50. But he will have to play his way into the PGA Tour’s Signature Events, which can mean playing more golf than he planned to otherwise.

Tom Kim just cannot do this. Brutal look.

Damaging a green is near the top of golf offenses.

pic.twitter.com/E5TEwr5l3v

— Rick Golfs (@Top100Rick) August 19, 2024

The beneficiary of Kim’s struggles down the stretch was U.S. Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley, who is at No. 50 in the FedEx Cup standings going into this week’s BMW Championship.

Cover Image via Golfweek