Tom Kim had waited almost three years to win another tournament. When the drought finally ended at The Renaissance Club, the first congratulatory message on his phone came from Tiger Woods.
Kim closed with a bogey-free 64 to finish at 17 under and beat Min Woo Lee by two strokes at the Genesis Scottish Open. The DP World Tour confirmed that the result gave the 24-year-old his fourth PGA Tour victory, his first title on the European circuit and his first Rolex Series trophy.
His previous title came at the 2023 Shriners Children’s Open, where he successfully defended the trophy and became the youngest player since Woods to collect three PGA Tour wins. A rapid rise had suddenly stalled. Kim then spent much of the next three seasons searching for the confidence and control that once made winning appear routine.
Scotland brought the breakthrough. Woods made sure Kim knew he had been watching.
Kim Took Control When His Rivals Started Slipping
Kim began the final round one shot off the lead after completing the fog-delayed third round on Sunday morning. He quickly joined the leaders with a birdie at the par-5 first, then converted a 16-foot putt at the fourth.
Another birdie at the seventh moved him ahead, but the leaderboard remained crowded. The DP World Tour’s final-round report detailed how Matt Fitzpatrick and Lee matched him at 14 under before both dropped shots at the eighth. Robert MacIntyre also lost ground during a poor front nine after beginning the round in contention.
Kim never gave them much room to recover. A 15-foot birdie at the 10th created separation, while another at the par-5 12th stretched his lead to three.
Lee kept the tournament alive. He birdied the 12th and gained another shot at the driveable par-4 14th, cutting the margin to one.
The tournament effectively ended at the 16th. Kim struck a precise 4-iron from more than 200 yards and left himself a six-foot birdie putt. He converted it to restore the two-stroke cushion.
A missed opportunity from seven feet at the 17th offered his rivals one final opening, but Kim closed with consecutive pars. His final round contained six birdies, no bogeys and very little panic.
Woods Reached Out Before the Celebration Settled
Kim had barely finished processing the victory when Woods contacted him.
Speaking to reporters at The Renaissance Club after signing for his closing 64, Kim explained that Woods had supported him since they became teammates with Jupiter Links Golf Club. The team competes in TGL, the technology-driven golf league that combines indoor match play with live short-game competition.
Kim then revealed the gesture that stayed with him, saying,
“This was my first win in three years, and the first person that texted me was Tiger Woods. Shows you the person he is and how much he cares.”
For Kim, the speed of the message meant everything. Woods had not simply noticed the final leaderboard. He had followed the difficult period behind it.
Their relationship developed through time spent together with Jupiter Links. Kim used that access to ask questions about pressure, preparation and the mental strain that follows early success.
Woods offered guidance when Kim needed it. The message after Scotland carried weight because it arrived from someone who understood both dominant success and the long work required to return from setbacks.
Kim Learned to Study Success Differently
Kim’s explosive arrival on tour saddled him with enormous expectations. He had won three times before turning 22 and climbed close to the world’s top 10. By June 2026, however, he had fallen outside the top 150 after recording only two top-10 finishes across 2025 and the early part of 2026, as outlined in the DP World Tour’s account of his difficult run.
A third-place finish at the United States Open provided the first clear sign of recovery. The Scottish Open confirmed that the improvement could hold under final-round pressure.
Kim did more than work on his swing during the slump. He studied how elite players handled difficult periods. That process included listening to interviews with leading golfers and paying close attention to how they spoke about pressure, patience and failure.
Scottie Scheffler became another important reference point. Kim admired his self-awareness and maturity, while personal conversations with Woods gave him a direct line to a player who had faced every form of expectation the sport could produce.
Those lessons appeared throughout Sunday’s round. Kim stayed patient when Lee closed the gap. He chose control over unnecessary aggression and produced his best approach shot when the lead felt most vulnerable.
A congratulatory message did not hit the 4-iron to six feet at the 16th. Kim did. Woods’ timing still mattered.
Kim had spent nearly three years trying to prove that his early success was not a brief burst. When he finally returned to the winner’s circle, his mentor was already waiting on the other end of the phone.
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FAQs
Q1. Who texted Tom Kim first after his Scottish Open win?
Tiger Woods sent Kim the first congratulatory message after he completed his victory at The Renaissance Club.
Q2. When did Tom Kim last win before the Scottish Open?
Kim’s previous victory came at the 2023 Shriners Children’s Open, where he successfully defended his title.
Q3. What did Tom Kim shoot in the Scottish Open final round?
Kim shot a bogey-free 64. He finished at 17 under and beat Min Woo Lee by two strokes.
Q4. How many PGA TOUR titles has Tom Kim won?
The Genesis Scottish Open gave Kim his fourth PGA TOUR victory.
Q5. Why does Tom Kim know Tiger Woods?
Kim and Woods play together for Jupiter Links Golf Club in TGL. Their time as teammates helped build a closer relationship.
Game day is every day. Living for the clutch moments and the comeback stories
