Making a maiden Augusta Masters look is the stuff of goals, Once you add a observe spherical alongside your life-long idol, it simply can not get any higher.

So it was for Korean star Joohyung ‘Tom’ Kim, making his first – and positively not the final – look at Augusta Nationwide Golf Membership for the primary ‘main’ of the 12 months. On Monday, he was paired with Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Fred {Couples} for his first really feel of the legendary course.

Solely 20, Kim has been on cloud 9 since driving by way of Magnolia Lane and stepping on the hallowed turf of Augusta Nationwide GC, the everlasting dwelling to the Masters Event. He now has to be taught his means across the course – taking up golf historical past and a raft of champions – within the hunt for the champion’s Inexperienced Jacket {that a} first-timer on the Masters has very not often bought his fingers on, the PGA Tour mentioned.

Kim bought to choose the brains of Woods, a five-time Masters winner, FedEx Cup champion McIlroy and the vastly-experienced {Couples}, who triumphed in 1992. His Monday nine-hole spherical, not unexpectedly, passed off in entrance of huge crowds that resembled the ultimate day of a serious event.

“A whole lot of laughter. So it was actually enjoyable,” mentioned Kim at a media interplay on Tuesday.

“I believe my first reminiscence of simply watching golf was the Masters and Tiger profitable it (in 2005), and for me to have the ability to share my first official observe spherical with him was a dream come true, actually. And to not simply play with Tiger however to have Fred {Couples} and Rory be a part of us, it was a dream.

“The blokes have been fairly severe and so they have been getting work completed. It was simply good and pleasing. Days like yesterday positively makes me really feel like goals actually do come true, particularly for the fellows again in Asia.

“You realize, I had a objective, and I labored in the direction of it, and it appears like days like yesterday positively, the arduous work sort of pays off.”

Not for nothing has the 20-year-old already received twice on the PGA Tour. Some weeks in the past, he visited Augusta Nationwide a number of weeks in the past for a really feel of the format and to get the “bug out”. This week it has all been about meticulous planning together with his caddie Joe Skovron, and understanding the course intricacies from the masters themselves.

Two PGA Tour victories and a standout efficiency within the Presidents Cup final 12 months propelled Kim into the worldwide highlight as he turned the primary golfer since Woods to win twice earlier than turning 21. Kim may break Woods’ report of being the youngest Masters champion if he can pull off an inconceivable victory on the historic venue.

The final Masters debutant to win was Fuzzy Zoeller, in 1979. Solely two others received on their first visits, Horton Smith, who received the inaugural Masters in 1934, and Gene Sarazen the next 12 months.

However Kim is unfazed by all of the historical past surrounding each the occasion and the venue.

“I bought some actually good work completed, and this course truly does swimsuit my eye slightly bit. So I am attempting to organize very well. Clearly a number of the guys have been right here much more than I’ve, however I’ve to regulate and adapt actually shortly,” Kim mentioned.

The Korean will play the opening two rounds alongside McIlroy and up to date WGC-Dell Applied sciences Match Play winner, Sam Burns.

Asian storm

Two years after Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama turned the primary Asian winner at Augusta Nationwide, Kim reckons the Asian brigade at this week’s Masters, which incorporates countrymen Sungjae Im, Si Woo Kim, Okay.H. Lee and one other Japanese debutant Kazuki Higa, may properly emerge as professional contenders.

“Clearly in main championship historical past, we’ve not had many Asian golfers win. I really feel like proper now on the tour, there are much more Asian golfers than there have been. Hopefully, particularly the Masters, each single golfer desires to win it, however for an Asian golfer to win the Masters goes to be much more impactful.

“Hopefully this week, whether or not it is me or any Asian golfer may have an opportunity to win on Sunday and hopefully encourage the generations arising,” he mentioned.

“That will exceed expectations for certain,” Kim added when requested what it could imply to change into the youngest Masters champion.

“I imply, I believe everybody desires to win the Masters. Everybody desires to park within the champions parking zone. Everybody desires to go to the Champions Dinner. Everybody desires to struggle for it. And I am the identical means, and hopefully I will simply have the ability to have an opportunity on Sunday. That will be a dream.”