Tom Kim slams 'false reporting' of locker room incident

PGA Tour professional Tom Kim claims there were “false reports”. What happened after the final round of the Genesis Championship in South Korea.

Kim, 22, lost in a playoff to Ben An at last weekend’s DP World Tour event at Jack Nicklaus Golf Club in Incheon.

The golfer managed to bogey his birdie on the 72nd hole and, had he escaped, would have claimed his fourth title since turning pro.

Instead, he lost on the first playoff hole to An, which included thinning a wedge shot.

Kim was understandably frustrated, and reports in Korean publications initially suggested he might face disciplinary action for breaking into a locker.

The South Korean confirmed in a statement on September 28 that he was frustrated and had no intention of causing damage.

He says he was told to remove the cabinet from its hinges for “safety reasons.”

According to Kim, the matter is now closed and he faces no further disciplinary action from the Korea Professional Golf Association.

The closet (Credit: Yonhap News Agency)

“There has been much speculation about the incident after my round yesterday at the Genesis Championship in my home country,” he wrote.

“There was a lot of false reporting and I wanted to clear things up.

“It is important that the information comes directly from me, openly and honestly.

“After the loss I was frustrated, yes absolutely… but I can assure you with absolute truth that I had no intention of ruining any part of the wardrobe even one bit.”

He added: “We took up the matter with the DP World Tour and the KPGA immediately after the incident, saying the door had come off.