Scottie Scheffler is posting one of the most remarkable runs in the post-Tiger era — a couple Masters wins, an Olympic gold medal, Tour victories by the armload, and the occasional jail visit — but even so, he generally keeps an even-keel demeanor. That is, unless you challenge him to a putting contest.
Early on Day 1 of the Presidents Cup, Tom Kim drained a long putt to put the pressure on Scheffler. But Scottie didn’t become the best in the world by shrinking from a challenge:
“What was that?” Scheffler bellowed, as Kim and partner Sungjae Im celebrated.
One hole later, Kim and Im decided to go for a little gamesmanship, leaving the green entirely and heading to the tee box before Scheffler putted out.
🚨💀⛳️ #BAD BLOOD — Tom Kim and Sungjae Im vacate the 8th hole to walk 60 yards away to the 9th tee box before Scottie Scheffler finished putting out. Paul McGinley: “That’s bordering on bad behavior…that’s disrespectful in my opinion.” pic.twitter.com/zNO2XYV9Xw
— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) September 26, 2024
Scheffler and playing partner Russell Henley controlled the early holes of the match. But credit to Kim for poking the bear. Not a whole lot of people would try that, and Scheffler showed why.
Kim and Scheffler kept up their back-and-forth on the 10th, where Scheffler sank a long birdie and Kim followed it up with a 21-footer of his own. A few fist pumps later and the two teams walked off the green, throwing haymakers in the best match of the first round of the Presidents Cup.
