Mark SchrabachESPN Senior Writer4 minute read
Tom Kim takes a mid-round mud bath
Tom Kim cleaned up in a creek after falling in a swamp at the PGA Championship.
Naturally, Kim did what any golfer would do. He went looking for his Titleist Pro VIx brand new.
When he came back without the ball, he was waist-deep in mud.
“They said the ball crossed the water,” Kim told ESPN. “It was in the mud over there, if you could find it.” [and] I lied good enough and thought I could break it over there. “
But Kim didn’t expect to have to walk through a mud bath to find it. He took off his shoes and socks and rolled up his pants to his knees.
“As soon as I walked in, it was like a sketch,” Kim said. “But I mean this is a major championship. I’m fighting for every stroke I have.”
After all, Kim ended up fighting more than strokes in her adventure.
“And it got dark,” he said. “Once I stepped in, I thought, ‘There’s no turning back.'”
Kim, 20, turned to caddy Joe Scovron for help.
“Well, if I go in and sink, we’ll both be stuck,” Scovron told him.
Kim had to crawl out of the mud. When he returned to dry land again without a golf ball, he was covered in mud from his waist to his toes. The Korean jumped back into the stream to wash off his arms and legs as television cameras recorded his every move. He took off his muddy shirt and changed into his jacket.
“Well, it can’t get any worse,” Kim said. “It was wet enough that I thought I would go into the water and wash myself, and I did exactly that.”
Unfortunately for Kim, the day ended with a bogey on the 6th hole, which would become the 15th hole. But he should have earned a Venus for his efforts. He scored par on each of the last three holes to record a 3-over 73 and was tied for 63rd when play was suspended due to darkness.
“It could have been better, that’s for sure,” said Kim. “I tried my best, especially after what happened on that hole.
After the round, Kim seemed amused that her achievement was broadcast on ESPN’s coverage and the moment went viral on social media.
“I hope people at home understand that this is a major championship,” Kim said. “I’m trying to play the best I can and every shot counts.” “I did full in, but it didn’t help me much, I couldn’t find my ball and I went through all that. It was a great experience.”
