Xander Schauffele has challenged Tom Kim’s accusation that Team USA members wereslinging insults at him and his fellow International player Si Woo Kim during the Presidents Cup. Tensions flared between the competitors on the tournament’s second day, Saturday, especially at the seventh hole as the International side was striving to claw back from an 8-6 disadvantage against Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay.
As the match unfolded, Team USA had their putt conceded, and when Si Woo’s shot ended up a mere three feet from the cup, the duo from the International team expected the Americans to reciprocate the earlier gesture of goodwill. However, their hopes were dashed as Kim had to putt out despite being in close proximity.
The 22-year-old golfer, clearly irked by the US team’s stance, opted to express his irritation visually by laying his putter on the turf, thereby highlighting the short gap from ball to hole.
Ironically, the very people Kim aimed to impact with his silent protest his rivals didn’t notice his demonstration; both Cantlay and Schauffele were already moving towards the eighth hole as his ball sank into the cup, leaving only Si Woo as a witness to his subtle act of rebellion.