‘Insanely Disrespectful’: Tom Kim’s Comparison to LIV Golfer & Ryder Cup Legend Enrages Golf World

Tom Kim has made his mark on the Presidents Cup. With his Friday and Saturday performances alongside Si Woo Kim, he has gone and beaten Scottie Scheffler, Russell Henley, Keegan Bradley and Wyndham Clark, and lost to Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay. And all along, he has brought the house down.

Dan Rappaport, the golf journalist, has been highly impressed with the South Korean and tweeted, “Tom Kim at the Presidents Cup has officially entered Ian Poulter territory.” The comparison is somewhat apt as Ian Poulter is affectionately called ‘The Postman’ because he always delivers. Poulter was a match play natural and also something of a heel.

Ian Poulter has played in seven Ryder Cups and won all but one. His reputation as a heel comes from his confidence in the Ryder Cup. In the 2010 Ryder Cup, he was being interviewed before the final day’s matches, and to everyone’s surprise; he announced that he would be getting the point for the Europeans against Matt Kuchar. The comment turned the match into a competitive knife fight and Poulter won out, etching his name in history.

Although Tom Kim has become a focus point for his crowd work at the Presidents Cup and his performances, he still has a way to go to match Poulter’s 3 PGA Tour wins and 12 International wins as well as other achievements in golf. He would also have to match his six Ryder Cup trophies which he can’t because he does not play for Europe, but may be able to replicate it in the Presidents Cup.

Fans lambaste Rappaport for comparison

“I can’t believe I’m going to say this but that is insanely disrespectful to Ian Poulter”, one commenter wrote in reply to Rappaport’s tweet. And it is a bit. Ian Poulter has gained both notoriety and fame for his achievements as previously mentioned, but Tom Kim, even with his 3 PGA Tour wins and 7 International wins at the age of 22, has a long way to go. Another commenter agreed that Ian Poulter is being disrespected, saying, “Ian Poulter is the greatest golfer to have ever graced this earth. Do not disrespect him.”, even though that is quite hyperbolic.

Several golf enthusiasts also expressed how Rappaport was not quite on the mark with the tweet and disagreed with how he presented Tom Kim as someone who would gain success and notoriety as a well-known golfer, only in his first Presidents Cup. “The mailman always delivers unlike your tweets.” One commenter mistakenly wrote mailman instead of postman, as Poulter is called. Another agreed with the sentiment, saying, “Not even close”.

A few people agreed with Rappaport that Tom Kim’s performance was Poulter-esque. Tom Kim has gone up against the best in Scheffler and Schauffele as well as other top American golfers and held his own. He has also been very boisterous and riled up the crowd, contributing hugely to the atmosphere. One commenter recognized this and wrote, “Agreed and I’m here for it.”

However, his career turns out to be in comparison with Poulter’s or any other veteran golfer’s. The young South Korean has earned a name for himself in the hearts of international fans. He will be playing the Sunday Singles as Team International, trying to win their first Presidents Cup in a long time by overturning a deficit of four points.