Scottie Scheffler and Tom Kim are friends off of the course (Image: GETTY)
Scottie Scheffler and Tom Kim were embroiled in a tense moment during the Presidents Cup, with tensions boiling over at the seventh hole.
Scheffler, representing Team USA, who were ahead 5-0, had a confrontation with Kim when the latter loudly celebrated a crucial birdie putt with cries of “let’s go!”
Scheffler, after nailing his own birdie putt to square the hole, then turned to Kim and shouted: “What was that?”
Matters intensified on the eighth green, as Kim once again grabbed attention by holing a lengthy birdie putt and made the contentious move of heading to the ninth tee before Scheffler even attempted his putt.
Commenting on the fiery encounters, US assistant captain Kevin Kisner openly criticised Kim to Golf Channel, remarking: “They took gamesmanship too far and over the line on sportsmanship and lose some integrity.
Scottie Scheffler and Tom Kim shook hands at the end of the round (Image: GETTY)
“I thought it was pretty bush league and I told Camilo that if that’s the way they want to play, then game on. If you can p**s off my No. 1 player in the world, then I’m all for it.”
Sky Sports golf pundit Paul McGinley echoed those sentiments, deeming the behaviour “disrespectful”.
Nevertheless, Kim defended himself against the criticisms. He argued that not observing Scheffler’s attempt did not influence their strategy. He said: “It wasn’t trying to be cheap or do anything like that. We were focused on our own game.
“He’s (Scheffler) a good friend. But at the same time, this week I don’t like him. I want to beat him so bad, and I’m sure he feels the same way.”
Scheffler himself seemed unbothered and understood Kim’s perspective, saying: “I would have done the same thing back at home. It’s all in good fun. We’re friends after. We’re not friends during.”
After securing a 3and2 victory, world number one Scheffler and his partner Russell Henley contributed to a clean sweep for the Americans in the opening fourballs in Canada.
The tournament is set to proceed on Friday without Kim, while Scheffler will team up with Henley in the fourball, taking on Si Woo Kim and Byeong Hun An.