Kim Si-woo's Shocking PGA Finish: What Will Happen Next?!

Kim Si-woo, the 2023 Sony Open champ, just missed cracking the top ten at this year's tournament, kicking off his 2026 PGA Tour season in Hawaii with a tie for 11th. It's a solid start, mind you, finishing with a four-round total of 10-under 270 at the Waialae Country Club in Honolulu. He carded a final round of 67, three-under par, punctuated by five birdies and a couple of bogeys – a pretty clean round overall.

Kim Si-woo's Shocking PGA Finish: What Will Happen...

What’s impressive is his consistency. Kim managed to break 70 in all four rounds, ultimately emerging as the top Korean player at the season opener. That's the kind of steadiness you need to contend week in and week out on the PGA Tour. Given he's already tasted victory here, I’m sure he came in hoping for a repeat. Eleventh place, while respectable, probably stings a little.

Fellow Korean Kim Seong-hyeon had a more turbulent week. After co-leading through 36 holes, he unfortunately faded over the weekend, eventually tying for 13th at nine-under. It's a tough pill to swallow when you start so strong. He was sitting pretty at nine-under at the halfway mark, but rounds of 72 and 68 over the final two days just weren’t enough to keep him in the mix. On Sunday, he showed flashes of brilliance with three birdies and an eagle, but three bogeys ultimately derailed his chances.

It's worth remembering Kim Seong-hyeon is back on the PGA Tour after the humbling experience of losing his card in 2024. He battled his way back through the Korn Ferry Tour last year, which is no small feat. That kind of resilience speaks volumes about his character. Meanwhile, Lee Seung-taek, another Korn Ferry Tour graduate and rookie, didn't fare so well, unfortunately missing the cut after rounds of 68 and 74 in his PGA Tour debut. It’s a tough environment out there, especially when you’re just starting out.

The fourth Korean in the field, Tom Kim, ended up further down the leaderboard in a tie for 61st at two-under. He did manage a final round of 68, which was his lowest score of the week, so hopefully he can build on that momentum heading into the next tournament. All in all, a mixed bag for the Korean contingent at the Sony Open, but Kim Si-woo's steady performance provides a positive note to start the year.