Paul McGinley took exception to Tom Kim and Sungjae Im’s antics during their tense clash with Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley during a one-sided start to the 2024 Presidents Cup.
The United States team finished the opening day of the Presidents Cup with a clean sweep in all five fourballs on Thursday.
Jim Furyk’s team got off to the perfect start with their star-studded group including the likes of Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa, Patrick Cantlay and Wyndham Clark.
The third fourball of the day saw close friends Kim and Scheffler go up against one another and the clash grabbed the attention of the crowds.
Kim celebrated wildly after holing a 35-foot putt for birdie on the seventh before Scheffler responded with a big putt of his own and screamed ‘What was that?!’ in the direction of his friend.
Tom Kim and Scottie Scheffler held nothing back in their match
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Things took a turn on the very next hole when Kim and Im walked off the eighth green and onto the ninth tee while Scheffler was still to putt out for a half.
It’s an unwritten code for golfers to wait around the green until everybody is finished before walking to the next hole.
The actions of the international pairing didn’t sit well with former Ryder Cup captain McGinley.
“That’s bordering on bad behaviour there. That’s disrespectful in my opinion,” McGinley said.
“I know its competitive out there but it certainly shows you there’s an underlying edge there and its not all fun and games.”
He added: “You outsmart yourself. The instigator is the one who suffers more than the recipient of what happened. It was very uncharacteristic behaviour.”
The incident also led to some unfriendly words between vice-captains Kevin Kisner and Camilo Villegas.
Kim and Im won the ninth hole, but it didn’t matter in the end as Scheffler and Henley delivered a comprehensive 3&2 win.
Scheffler appeared to enjoy the back-and-forth with his close friend throughout the round and brushed off their clash as nothing more than fighting talk.
“That was a bit of fun,” Scheffler said.
“That’s the same thing I would have done at home if he had made a putt and we were playing wolf and he had celebrated like that.
Scottie Scheffler brushed off the incident
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“It’s all in good fun. We enjoy competing against each other and that’s what it’s like out here.
“It’s fun to compete and fun to represent our country and at the end of the match, take our hats off, shake hands – we’re friends after, not friends during I guess.”
Kim similarly brushed it off and insisted it changes nothing in their friendship away from the course.
“That’s how we play at home,” he said.
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“I knew it was going to happen. It’s all fun.
“I made it on top of him. He gave it to me and I gave it to him back on the next hole.
“I don’t shy away from him. He’s a good friend, but at the same time this week I don’t like him.
“I want to beat him so bad and I’m sure he feels the same way.”