Tom Kim, Im Sung-jae move up on Presidents Cup International Team roster

Korean star Tom Kim improved to No. 2 in the International Team standings for the Presidents Cup following a runner-up finish at the Travelers Championship on Sunday as he looks to land a spot on the roster in September.

Korea's Tom Kim, left, and Im Sung-jae react to a putt on the 18th green by an International Team member during four-ball matches on day two of the 2022 Presidents Cup at Quail Hollow Country Club on September 23, 2022 in Charlotte, North Carolina. [GETTY IMAGES]

Korean star Tom Kim improved to No. 2 in the International Team standings for the Presidents Cup following a runner-up finish at the Travelers Championship on Sunday. The 22-year-old, who lost to World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler in a playoff, is looking to secure a coveted spot on his second International Team after making a memorable debut at Quail Hollow Club in 2022.

The Presidents Cup returns to The Royal Montreal Golf Club in Montreal, Canada from September 24 to 29, with the Mike Weir-led International Team taking on the U.S. Team, of which Jim Furyk is the captain.

Kim, 22, emerged as the breakout International Team star two years ago when he compiled a 2-3-0 record, highlighted by two wins on Saturday, including a clinching birdie putt on the 18th hole to defeat Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele in Four-ball. The three-time PGA Tour winner has hit form in recent times with a tied fourth finish at the RBC Canadian Open earlier this month complementing his second-place finish last weekend.

“I've worked really, really hard this past few week, it's my eighth week in a row and it's just nice to know that the hard work kind of really does come to life. It would have been super sweet if I won but it still doesn't change who I am,” said Kim.

In addition to Kim, Korea’s Im Sung-jae also climbed the standings to No. 4, bumping countryman An Byeong-hun to fifth. An, who has five top-10s on the PGA Tour this season, was forced to withdraw from the Travelers Championship due to illness and is seeking to make his second International Team following his debut in 2019.

Im, who represented the International Team in 2019 and 2022, has solidified his position in the top-6 of the team rankings following four top-10s in his last six PGA Tour starts, including a tied third finish at the Travelers Championship where he shot 63 and 66 over the weekend.

“I had a strong finish until the end and made great result. I’ve got a clear view of the Presidents Cup and I know I will need to keep pushing until the end. I want to make the team so badly,” said Im, who holds a 5-3-2 record in the Presidents Cup.

Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama continues to lead the International Team rankings with Australian Jason Day and Nick Taylor of Canada rounding up the top-6 places.

The 2024 International Team will be comprised of six automatic qualifiers and six captain’s picks, with the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) being used to determine the former. The automatic qualifiers will be the top six eligible international players in the OWGR after completion of the 2024 BMW Championship.

Korean golfers make up half of the top six international players. Japan's Matsuyama sits at No. 1 above No. 2 Kim, No. 3 Day, No. 4 Im, No. 5 An and No. 6 Taylor.

With just three months to go, World No. 1 and top-ranked U.S. Team standout Scheffler remains firmly atop the U.S. Team standings. He became the first player on Sunday to record six PGA Tour wins before July since Arnold Palmer in 1962.

Cantlay and Akshay Bhatia, who both finished tied for fifth last week, are looking to qualify for the U.S. Team. Seeking to play in his third Presidents Cup, Cantlay moved up one spot to No. 5 while 22-year-old Bhatia improved two spots to No. 13 as he aims to become the first Junior Presidents Cup player to compete in the Presidents Cup. Sahith Theegala currently occupies the sixth and final automatic slot for the U.S. Team.

The 2024 U.S. Team will be comprised of six automatic qualifiers and six captain’s picks, with a weighted system based on FedExCup Points from Jan. 1 to Aug. 25. The automatic qualifiers will be the top six eligible U.S. players in the OWGR after completion of the 2024 BMW Championship.

For the U.S. Team, Scheffler leads at No. 1 before No. 2 Schauffele, No. 3 Collin Morikawa, No. 4, Wyndham Clark, No. 5 Cantlay and No 6. Theegala.

BY CHUAH CHOO CHIANG [kjdsports@joongang.co.kr]