The abiding image of the 105th US PGA Championship may not involve the victor. Step forward Tom Kim. During a remarkable episode in the latter stages of the first day’s play, the world No 19 emerged caked in mud after trying to find his ball in what closely resembled swamp land on Oak Hill’s sixth hole.
Kim had stumbled and for little reward; he failed to even retrieve his errant tee shot. Kim was subsequently seen rinsing himself off in a nearby stream and discarding his shirt.
Thankfully, he had a sweater in his golf bag. He played the closing three holes of his round – Kim had started on the 10th – in level par, for a three over total, with trousers rolled up and soil stains throughout his lower body.
Kim burst into fits of laughter when informed most of the hilarious scene had been captured on the tournament’s live broadcast and gone viral as a result. “Are you kidding me?” he said. “Unbelievable.