"I don't think that's in their character"- Tom Kim's caddie sides with Byeong Hun An's controversial deleted tweet about US Team at Presidents Cup
The Presidents Cup reportedly got a little chippy, and Tom Kim's caddie Paul Tesori shared some new details about the rivalry between the United States and the International side. This comes in the wake of a frustrated tweet from fellow International Player Byeong Hun An that has since been deleted.
Tesori said via Golf Digest that American players, without taking any names, reportedly cursed at his golfer, the 22-year-old Kim. He said:
"I witnessed three scenarios where members of the U.S. team emphatically got personal with Tom, and, yes, you know, cursed at him. And at the end of the day, no one wants that."
Tesori added that he was surprised that the specific players, which he again refused to name, had done this:
"These two guys that had done it, I don't think that's in their character at all."
An had a similar experience, and he seemingly called out Wyndham Clark in his tweet. When Si Woo Kim mimicked Steph Curry's iconic celebration after a key putt, Clark returned the favor after Kim missed.
The PGA Tour posted the exchange on X, and An replied that hey "always have a guy in your group, who doesn’t do s**t but talk s**t all day." The tweet didn't stay up for very long.
The allegations against American players prompted controversy, but Kim sought out Xander Schauffele and captain Jim Furyk to clear the air after the incident. Tesori added:
"One of them I witnessed a foot away from me, and the feelings I had inside were very New York Bethpage-y. I wanted to react physically, and I was upset by what had happened. But at the end of the day, I also know the character of the person that this happened I don't believe is that way, and Tom handled it really well."
Tom Kim and Scottie Scheffler also got into it during their matchup, but Kim said later that it was just how the two of them, who are friends, play.
Tom Kim details alleged cursing during Presidents Cup
Much of the entire Presidents Cup controversy stems from the interactions between Tom Kim and the American golfers, who got into it on the first day. After that round, Kim publicly claimed there were issues.
He said via Golf Digest:
“I think the start of the round was definitely a little harder, but as it got towards the end, it got a little feisty out there. I could hear some players cursing at us."
He said he didn't feel as if there was good sportsmanship there, but he understands that it's "all part of the fun." Kim added that the USA side "definitely motivated" his team.
Kim also acknowledged that he could be seen "throwing fist pumps and jumping on the green." He knows it's all part of the game, but there was a line that may have been crossed.