Tom Kim secures Genesis Scottish Open victory, ending wait for fourth PGA Tour title

By Emeka Nwosu — 12 July 2026 — 4 min read

Kim’s path to victory

Tom Kim secured his fourth PGA Tour title at the Genesis Scottish Open, marking his first worldwide win since the 2023 Shriners Children’s Open. Kim’s impressive performance at the Renaissance Club saw him finish with a two-shot lead over Min Woo Lee. He entered the final round one shot behind co-leaders Lee, Robert MacIntyre, and Matt Fitzpatrick.

Kim’s final round was notable for a blemish-free 65, which propelled him to the top of a competitive leaderboard. He concluded the tournament at 17 under par. Lee, who posted a three-under 67, finished two shots behind Kim.

During the final round, Kim demonstrated consistent play, pulling level with the leaders by recording two birdies in his first four holes. He further extended his lead by capitalising on the par-five seventh and sinking a 15-foot putt for a birdie on the 10th hole. Kim solidified his win with a six-foot birdie on the 16th and parred his final two holes to establish the winning total.

Reflecting on his performance, Kim stated, “I played probably as good as I could have down the stretch with the pressure. I executed where I needed to. I’m very proud of myself for just being calm up there and just treating each shot as every shot out there.”

Local favourites and Open qualifications

Robert MacIntyre, a local favourite, was unable to secure a home victory. He finished four strokes back in a tie for third place alongside Matt Fitzpatrick, Keita Nakajima, and Johnny Keefer. MacIntyre had briefly taken the solo lead early in the final round after birdieing the par-five first, while his playing partner Fitzpatrick bogeyed the next hole. However, MacIntyre lost ground with four bogeys across a seven-hole stretch starting from the fourth. Despite this, he made a strong finish with a 30-foot eagle on the 12th and two late birdies, ending the week at 13 under par.

Matt Fitzpatrick‘s final round included four birdies and three bogeys, resulting in a one-under 69. He also finished tied for third at 13 under par.

The tournament also served as a qualifier for The 154th Open at Royal Birkdale. Johnny Keefer, Michael Thorbjornsen, and Victor Perez secured spots in the major through their performances at the Genesis Scottish Open. Keefer claimed a last-minute spot as one of the leading three players not already exempt for Royal Birkdale. Thorbjornsen finished tied for seventh, and Perez finished tied for ninth.

Rory McIlroy made a significant charge on Sunday, recording five birdies in his first seven holes. His final-round 64 matched his lowest of the season, moving him to a tie for seventh place alongside Thorbjornsen. McIlroy had struggled in the third round, posting a 73, which included only one birdie, causing him to slip out of contention. He attributed some of his inconsistency with irons to playing in a left-to-right wind and plans to address this issue before Royal Birkdale.

Kim’s equipment and crowd reception

For his victory at the Genesis Scottish Open, Tom Kim utilized a specific set of golf equipment. His driver was a Titleist GTS3 (9 degrees) with a Fujikura ATMOS Black 6 X shaft. He also used Titleist GTS3 fairway woods (15 degrees) with a Fujikura ATMOS Black 7 X shaft, and an 18-degree wood with a Fujikura Ventus Blue VeloCore+ 8X shaft.

Kim’s irons included a Titleist T200 (2) with a Fujikura Ventus Black HB 10 X shaft, and T100 (4-9) with Project X 6.0 shafts. His wedges were Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (46 degrees) with a Project X 6.0 shaft, and SM9 (54, 58 degrees) with True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue Onyx X100 shafts. He putted with a Scotty Cameron Tour Type GSS prototype and used a Titleist Pro V1x ball.

Despite the strong local support for Robert MacIntyre, Tom Kim expressed appreciation for the crowd at the Scottish Open. He acknowledged that a large majority of the fans were hoping for a MacIntyre victory, stating, “I’m sure 95 per cent of the Scottish fans wanted Rob to win today, but I can still feel the love.” Kim praised the Scottish fans, calling them “some of best fans in the world” who “applaud for really good shots and understand what a good shots is.” He added that winning a trophy in the “Home of Golf” was an “awesome” experience for him.

The Scottish Open attracted significant attention due to the quality of its field, which included notable players such as Jon Rahm, Scottie Scheffler, and Rory McIlroy. While some of the big names did not contend over the weekend, the tournament delivered an engaging Sunday. MacIntyre also commended the galleries, stating, “The fans have been incredible. I am being biased but the best fans in the world.”

The final men’s major of the year, The Open, will feature live coverage starting at 6:30 AM on Thursday, July 16.

Source: skysports.com