PGA Tour star Tom Kim found himself three strokes off the lead after the opening round of the men’s golf tournament at the Paris Olympics on Thursday.
Kim, whose Korean birth name is Joo-hyung, fired a bogey-free round of five-under 66 in the first round at Le Golf National in Guyancourt, just south of Paris.
Hideki Matsuyama of Japan, the 2021 Masters champion, is alone at the top after shooting an eight-under 63. Xander Schauffele of the United States, the defending Olympic champion and a two-time major winner this year, is in second place at six-under 65.
Kim is tied for third with two other players, Joaquin Niemann of Chile and Emiliano Grillo of Argentina.
An Byeong-hun, the one other South Korean in the field and also a PGA Tour player, had three birdies and four 커뮤니티 bogeys for a round of one-over 72, which put him in sole possession of 48th place among 60 players.
Kim said he was mostly pleased with his first-ever Olympic round, which featured four birdies on the front nine and one more on the back nine.
“I played a steady round of golf and I escaped trouble well,” he said. “I think I can maintain this moment for the next three days.”
Kim said having played on the same course last September for the Cazoo Open de France, where he tied for sixth place, helped with his preparation.
“It’s not a particularly long course but you have to be precise. Tee shots and second shots both require great focus,” Kim said. “I played some smart golf today and I will try to keep this up.
Kim averted a disaster on the par-3 16th, where he shanked his tee shot to way right but got up and down for par.