Korea's Tom Kim eyes rare three-peat in Shriners Children's Open

Korea’s Tom Kim will chase a rare three-peat on the PGA Tour this week when he defends the Shriners Children’s Open title he won last year and in 2022, and he is figuring how to top his celebration if he can notch another historic milestone in his blossoming career.

The 22-year-old Kim successfully defended at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas a year ago to become the fourth youngest player in history to win three times on the PGA Tour. A return to his favorite hunting ground has him relishing at the opportunity to become the first golfer since Steve Stricker (John Deere Classic 2009, 2010, 2011) to win the same event in three consecutive years, and only the 10th player to three-peat since World War II.

“I think it's a very, very cool week just to be even having a chance of that. I think that's the coolest part,” said Kim ahead of the fourth PGA Tour Fall event.

“My last event was at the Presidents Cup, so game is feeling really good … just trying to be really focused on my game plan and try to have a shot on Sunday would be amazing,” added the Korean, who posted a 1-2-1 (win-loss-tie) record at Royal Montreal.

While his rapid rise to fame has hit headlines around the world over the past two years, Kim went viral on social media and also featured in the Netflix series Full Swing after revealing how he intended to celebrate after accomplishing another Vegas victory last year.

“I’m going to go back home and I’m going to finish a piece of chocolate that I wanted to finish, so I’m going to do that,” Kim said a year ago. “And then I’m going to order room service, and I’m going to go to bed. Then I’m going to wake up at 3 and take my 6:30 a.m. flight. It’s going to be exciting.”

When asked about that celebration, Kim explained: “It was a very, very, just a very pure, honest reply from me. That's exactly what I did. (Chocolate) Definitely tasted very, very sweet. I can still remember it. It was back-to-back and having that last piece, because I saved it on Saturday night, it was very sweet.

“I don't have a piece of chocolate with me this week, but we'll find something else.”

He fired weekend scores of 62-66 en route to both victories, beating Patrick Cantlay and Matthew