Cal Alum Michael Kim Makes PGA History Before Coming Back Down to Earth

Updated

Michael Kim made the turn in the third round of the 108th PGA Championship on Saturday after writing some impressive history.

The 32-year-old Cal alum shot a 5-under 30 on the front nine at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, PA, giving him a two-day total of 61 over a stretch of 18 holes.

For context, consider that the PGA single-round record is 62, set in 2024 at Valhalla Golf Club by Xander Schauffele in the first round and matched in the third round by Shane Lowry. Those were 9-under scores on a par 71 layout.

Kim, playing on a par-70 course, closed out his Friday action by making two birdies and an eagle over the final six holes over the front nine, which he played last. That helped him sculpt a 31 over those nine holes and had him in a tie for 59th place.

Playing the same front nine to begin his Saturday, Kim made birdies on the first three holes, a bogey on No. 4 before three more birdies, then pars on Nos. 8 and 9. At that point he had vaulted himself to a share of ninth place, just two strokes off the lead and one stroke out of a tie for third.

The 30 he posted on Saturday morning matched with the 31 from the afternoon before added up to an 18-hole total of 61.

Unfortunately for the world’s 45th-ranked player, the back nine did not go as well. Kim made a double-bogey on the 10th hole and a bogey on No. 11. He responded with an eagle-2 on the 13th but had bogeys on 14 and 15 before a birdie on No. 16.

His back nine score of 37 left him at 3-under 67 for the day and even through three rounds. Kim is tied for 31st place, six strokes back of leader Alex Smalley.

Fellow Cal alum Collin Morikawa, who began the day at plus-1 and tied for 30th place, carded seven bogeys on Saturday and finished with a 4-over 74 and at plus-5 overall is tied for 76th place among 82 golfers who made the cut on Friday.

Morikawa, ranked No. 5 in the world, had birdies on Nos. 6, 9 and 13. But those could not overcome his spate of bogeys as he fell 11 strokes off the lead.

Smalley bogeyed three of his first four holes but carded five birdies on the back nine for a 67 to fashion a 54-hole total of 6 under. He has a one-stroke lead after a day when 14 different players held at least a share of the top spot for a time.

Five golfers are tied for second, including Jon Rahm, who shot a 67 despite three-putting his final hole. Reigning Masters champion Rory McIlroy, who had a 66, is among five players tied for seventh at minus-3.

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