Kim Joo-hyung joins Im Sung-jae on Presidents Cup roster

Kim Joo-hyung will join Im Sung-jae to play his very first Presidents Cup in September.

Kim Joo-hyung [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Im Sung-jae [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Kim Joo-hyung will join Im Sung-jae to play his very first Presidents Cup in September.

Kim has made a rapid climb on the PGA Tour in the last few weeks. After receiving special temporary membership on the Tour in July, Kim two weeks later burst onto the scene with a win at the Wyndham Championship, earning a PGA Tour card and the right to compete in the first two legs of the FedEx Cup Playoffs.

Despite narrowly missing out on qualifying for his very first Tour Championship after tying for 54th at the BMW Championship on Sunday, Kim will be competing at his very first Presidents Cup in August while Im marks his second time competing.

The Presidents Cup pits the 12-men International Team against the 12-men United States team.

While eight of the 12 Presidents Cup International Team spots are given to the top eight players on the Presidents Cup International Team Points List, the remaining four players are picked by the captain. Im is No. 3 on the list and Kim is No. 5.

Kim will be the second youngest International Team player to compete in the Presidents Cup, after Japan's Ryo Ishikawa.

"It's crazy," said Kim on Sunday. "I can't really believe I'll be playing in the Presidents Cup. It's something I've dreamed of since I was a kid and I've watched it all the time, so it's going to be exciting for me to be able to play on the International Team, and hopefully I can be a good contribution.

"I didn't really think that this year I'd be able to play. I was pretty far away and the last couple of months has really changed. It means a lot."

Kim's recent performance on the PGA Tour not only led him to the Presidents Cup, but also has caught the eye of International Presidents Cup captain Trevor Immelman, who is looking for only the Team's second victory over the Americans.

"As I look at the landscape of international golf, it is great to see so much young talent breaking through and right at the top of that list is Tom Kim," said Immelman, referring to the English name Kim uses at competitions.

"His incredible play this summer vaulted him into the top eight on our points list, and watching his Sunday performance at the Wyndham Championship give way to his first victory on the PGA Tour was a tremendous moment for the International Team, as well as our game. I can't wait for him to bring his youthful energy to Quail Hollow Club."

Kim Joo-hyung, top right and Im Sung-jae, bottom right. are included in the PGA Tour's announcement of the top eight golfers in the International Team for the Presidents Cup. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Countryman Lee Kyoung-hoon is No. 9 in the standings, missing the International Team by one rung and now hoping for a captain's pick.

"I want to... I hope to play in the Presidents Cup," said Lee on Sunday. "Also before, I had a little pressure on myself, but just myself, just trying to play well. If I get there, it's going to be really an honor for me."

This year, Korean golf legend Choi has been appointed as one of four assistant captains for the Presidents Cup, joining the leadership of the International Team for the third time.

The Presidents Cup will be contested from Sept. 22 to 25 at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina.

BY YUN SO-HYANG [yun.sohyang@joongang.co.kr]