Korea's Tom Kim successfully defends Shriners Children's Open title

Korean star Tom Kim became the first golfer to successfully defend the Shriners Children's Open in 24 years after he closed with a 5-under 66 on Sunday (Monday, Manila time), clinching a one-stroke win over Canada's Adam Hadwin.

The 21-year-old Kim, who shot a remarkable 62 on Saturday to earn the co-third round lead alongside Hadwin and Lanto Griffin, carded seven birdies against two bogeys to successfully defend his title at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas, finishing with a winning total of 20-under 264. 

The last player to win the Shriners Children’s Open in successive editions was Jim Furyk in (1998-99) and in achieving this, Kim also became the fourth youngest player in PGA TOUR history to secure three wins at the age 21 years, 2 months, and 13 days, following Gene Sarazen (20 years, 5 months, 23 days), Horton Smith (20 years, 8 months, 19 days), and Tiger Woods (21 years, 13 days).

"It's very sweet. I feel like the first two wins came at me really quick. It took a lot longer than my first two wins to get my third one. But it's very sweet," said Kim. "This is really for the team. I've worked really hard personally, but without their help, I would not even be close to getting my third win. This is really sweet for us."

Hadwin, who was chasing his first win since the Valspar Championship in 2017, posted a closing 67, while Korea’s K.H. Lee, with a commendable 68, bolstered the Asian representation on the leaderboard, finishing tied seventh.

Kim's successful defense was memorable given the fact that he was forced to miss his Wyndham Championship defense in August due to an ankle injury. "It was so hard for me to be - the week of Wyndham, to just be at home. It was so hard for me to just sit on my couch and not really be able to do anything," he recalled. "It was very frustrating personally as a player because it was my first win, and I was so determined to come back to Shriners at least being healthy and at least have a chance to win as a defending champion.

"Winning this week is just making me miss that week even more, my first win. Not to have even a chance to compete out there, as a player, it's hard. But I really do want — obviously this win is dedicated to the