THE 151ST OPEN

July 23, 2023

Tom Kim

Mixed Zone

Q. How were you feeling out there in the cold with your injury?

TOM KIM: It actually lasted better today. I took off my cast and kind of saw and it actually got a lot better, which was really nice to see.

My team and my medical team have done a great job of protecting it and making sure it's not moving as much as possible.

Obviously coming down the stretch of a major when you're playing well the adrenaline kind of hits and makes sure you're kind of in it.

It was kind of nice to almost forget about it a little bit, because when you're in the moment you don't really think about it. I think today was probably the best it's been out of the three days, so kind of relieved.

Q. When it is cold, is there like a mental -- some part of you that worries, oh, it's cold, it's wet? Does that cross your mind?

TOM KIM: For sure, especially if it's wet. You could slip really easily. The last thing I need right now is another twist or another slip. Obviously being kind of chilly, if you're not warm enough, it could -- it tends to be a little bit more sore.

But like I said, you have the adrenaline that hits you really hard to be able to kind of just not really think about it.

Q. You obviously played so well at the end of last year, start of this year and really burst on to the scene, but then there was a little bit of a lull. How satisfying does it feel to play so well at the U.S. Open last week, and then I think you got the round of the day here in the final round of The Open?

TOM KIM: It's very, very satisfying. It's been tough at times this year, but I can't say it's really tough, because for me, I feel like our team has a lot of expectations and we're trying to play the best that I can, very fortunately.

Obviously having the season last year, your expectations go more up and you kind of feel like you're supposed to play like that all the time. Seeing golf courses that I haven't been to, hitting a huge learning curve, it's been kind of frustrating a little bit.

But it's been a time where I put things a lot in perspective and try to keep myself -- this is just a learning curve, this is my first full year out. These guys have been out here for five to ten plus years.

I really have to kind of put it into perspective and keep working hard to keep playing better. I put a lot of work in this year trying to get back to that feeling of kind of contending in big events and it's kind of nice to see the fruits coming to life.

Q. Are you surprised you played so well in this tournament and today in particular?

TOM KIM: No, but at the same time, a little bit because of how my foot was feeling. I was thinking about pulling out my second round and the third round. But I'm kind of glad I didn't. Stuck to it.

No, played great this week.

Q. It wasn't too long back that you were playing in places like India. Did you ever think you would get here so quickly?

TOM KIM: I had hoped so. I've always dreamt of playing on the biggest stages and playing majors and all this. Definitely had my head down trying to get here as fast as possible.

Definitely was a goal of mine, but you never expect -- you don't know when it's going to happen. I'm just a very fortunate person to be able to kind of achieve this -- well, not achieve, but to play in this stage where I am right now.

Q. There's a lot of people who are still talking about you back in India now that you've reached the big stage. Do you remember the place?

TOM KIM: I do remember the place. It was my first Asian Tour win and it was kind of the same thing where I came from a development tour and won one of my second events coming out. It was my first win on the Asian Tour, so of course I remember it.

Q. Was there a moment today when you look at the leaderboard and it's like, there's just no one that's going to catch Brian Harman?

TOM KIM: I mean, Brian was five shots ahead at the start of the day. In a major championship when you have a five-shot lead and you shoot anywhere even to under par, it's really hard to catch.

I was just trying to have a good finish because I'm trying to stack up those kind of good weeks and give myself confidence again.

I wasn't trying to look at the leaderboard too much, but I think I took a glimpse -- I didn't see it but I took a glimpse of it, and after nine I thought I was inside the top 10. But I forgot about it really quickly and kind of tried to keep my foot on the gas.