Resilience on Display: Si Woo Kim's 62 Keeps Him in Hunt

The difference between a good player and a great one is not how they perform when everything is clicking—it's how they respond when it isn't. Si Woo Kim provided a textbook example of championship resilience on Friday at the WM Phoenix Open.

The Turnaround

After an opening-round 73 left him well off the pace, Kim could have easily packed it in mentally. Instead, he went out and fired a 9-under 62, vaulting himself into a tie for fifth at 7-under par heading into the weekend.

The 62 was not just a good score—it was a statement. Kim made nine birdies and zero bogeys, navigating TPC Scottsdale's tricky greens with the kind of precision that has become his trademark over the past month.

The West Coast Surge

This is not an isolated performance. Kim has now posted three consecutive top-10 finishes on the West Coast swing:

• The American Express: T6 (-22)
• Farmers Insurance Open: T2 (-16)
• WM Phoenix Open: T5 (-7, ongoing)

That kind of consistency is exactly what Captain Mike Weir needs from his veterans. Kim is not just playing well—he is proving he can sustain elite-level golf over multiple weeks and different course setups.

Mental Toughness as a Presidents Cup Asset

The Presidents Cup is a marathon, not a sprint. Over the course of four days, players will face adversity—bad bounces, tough pairings, hostile crowds. The ability to reset and respond, as Kim did on Friday, is what separates winners from also-rans.

Kim's bounce-back 62 is a microcosm of what makes him such a valuable team player. He does not dwell on mistakes. He does not let a bad round derail his week. He simply goes out and executes.

The Road Ahead

With 36 holes to play at TPC Scottsdale, Kim is very much in the hunt. He trails leader Ryo Hisatsune by just four shots, and on a course where birdies come in bunches, that deficit is eminently manageable.

But regardless of where he finishes this week, Kim has already accomplished something more important: he has proven, once again, that he is built for the big moments.