KAPALUA, Hawaii (AP) — Jordan Spieth knew Tom Kim had game. He just didn’t know about Kim’s appetite.
Spieth and Kim have been loosely connected in recent months without ever really knowing each other. That changed over the holidays.
The 20-year-old South Korean was looking for a U.S. base last summer when he chose Dallas, the hometown of Spieth. Kim needed a place to play and practice and chose Trinity Forest, where Cameron McCormick has a state-of-the-art teaching facility. It made sense for Kim to ask McCormick if he could help keep his game in order.
McCormick, of course, has been the only swing coach Spieth ever had.
“I don’t remember meeting him until the fall, maybe at the Presidents Cup,” Spieth said.
He knew about Kim and his exploits — winning the Wyndham Championship in the final regular-season event, delivering big moments at the Presidents Cup, and then winning again in Las Vegas in a duel against Patrick Cantlay.
But it wasn’t until a flight home from the Hero World Challenge a month ago in the Bahamas that the relationship took on a new meaning. Spieth was with his wife, Annie, and 1-year-old son Sammy.
“I took Jordan Air,” Kim said with a laugh, because he laughs at most things. “The more time I spent with Jordan, we just kind of became closer friends.”
Spieth learned that Kim was headed to South Korea in December for a few weddings. His parents, who had moved to Dallas with Kim, were going to stay through the holidays.
“Annie said, ‘You’re going to be alone on Christmas?’” Spieth said, to which Kim replied his trainer was in town and it would be no problem. “Annie was like, ‘No, no. No one is alone on Christmas.’
“I shot him a text on the 23rd … ‘Tom, we want you to come over. Don’t feel obligated, but if you want to, we’d love to have you.’”
The holiday feast was prime rib and a full table of side dishes. They played the Dominoes game “Train,” which was just a coincidence. Kim was known by his given name, Joohyung, until word got out that he goes by “Tom” because he was fascinated by Thomas the Tank Engine cartoon figure as a boy.
In some cases, Kim is still a boy.
“He’s like the Sammy Whisperer,” Spieth said. “He’s so good with Sammy. I think they’re just so close in age, it makes it nice for them.”
Spieth was joking and Kim burst out laughing when he heard what Spieth had said. Kim likes to make fun of his age. He sent Justin Thomas a text last October asking if he could get an exemption to the junior tournament Thomas hosts.
“Oh my God, Sammy is amazing,” Kim said. “He’s the most wonderful little boy I think I’ve ever met.”
Spieth also showed photos of Kim playing with Ellie, the younger sister of Spieth who has special needs and whom Spieth once said is the funniest member of their family.
