Tom Kim's caddie defends him after fiasco at Presidents Cup, says 'U.S. team cursed at him'
A fortnight after an intense Presidents Cup, South Korean golfer Tom Kim's caddie, Paul Tesori, came to his defense. However, the experienced caddie also felt that the 22-year-old could have handled the controversy better.
At the 2024 Presidents Cup, Kim accused some unnamed US players of "cursing" at him and his partner Si Woo Kim. He also felt that there was a lack of sportsmanship. His opponent Xander Schauffele however did not agree with Kim's remarks and made his feelings clear about it. Kim had later said in a press conference that he had apologized to both Schauffele and the US team captain Jim Furyk.
Kim's caddie, Tesori, recently appeared on SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio and talked about the drama that unfolded at Royal Montreal with hosts Brian Crowell and Frank Darby. He said (via Golf Digest):
"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."
While he defended his player, Tesori also acknowledged that Kim could have handled the situation better.
"Now, there's no reason for him to go in the media and we know in the world we live in now, even if there was video proof of what happened, half the world is going to think he's being a baby and the other half is going to think he's viable."
Tesori claimed that Golf Channel's Rex Hoggard had also backed up Kim's claims. The veteran caddie also noted the young player needed to have "thick skin".
"It's only two of the 24 guys who acted in a way that I'd be embarrassed to act, but Tom has to have thick skin. And at the end of the day, you can't go to the media and pronounce that, you have to go talk to your captains about it, talk to your teammates about it, and it's a learning experience for Tom."
Paul Tesori has been caddying for Tom Kim since February 2024.
"I didn't mean to do it in that way" - Tom Kim apologizes to Xander Schauffele
Tom Kim silently protested against Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay after the duo didn't concede their putt the way they had during the previous hole at the 2024 Presidents Cup. Kim laid down his putt between the ball and the hole to highlight the proximity but the US pair had already begun their way to the next hole and didn't see Kim's supposed act of dissent.
Kim also accused certain US players of cursing at him and Si Woo Kim and claimed there was a lack of sportsmanship. However, Schauffele disagreed with the South Korean's statements.
Kim later said that he had apologized to Schauffele and US captain Jim Furyk. He said (via ASAP Sports):
"I just told him like, hey, I didn't mean it to go in such a negative way. If it did, I just said I'm sorry."
He added:
"So I went to him and I said, I didn't mean it that way. I apologize if it came out wrongly. It was just this and this happened, but if it affected you guys so negatively, I really do apologize. I didn't mean to do it in that way."
Kim also clarified his stance, saying that Schauffele and Cantlay had always shown "good sportsmanship".