Bio Kim heading to Hoylake as rollercoaster career continues
By Alex Perry
Remember Bio Kim – the South Korean golfer who was handed a three-year suspension by the KPGA in 2019 after he made an obscene gesture to fans? Well, he’s just qualified for his first Open Championship.
The 32-year-old, whose ban was reduced to 12 months on appeal, will tee up at Royal Liverpool after finishing tied-4th at the World City Championship in Hong Kong.
The incident happened during that year’s Daegu Gyeongbuk Open after a fan distracted Kim during his swing. The golfer reacted by giving the gallery the middle finger.
Kim went on to win the Korean Tour event, his sixth at the time, and since his suspension lifted he has won three more as well as making his PGA Championship debut at Southern Hills, where he missed the cut.
Joining Kim in the field at Hoylake from the Open Qualifying Series event are Taichi Kho, Michael Hendry and Travis Smyth.
LIV Golf player Ian Poulter, who has played in all but two Open Championships since the turn of the century, finished in a tie for 45th as he vowed to “keep fighting” for a spot in golf’s oldest major.
Alex Perry
Alex has been the editor of National Club Golfer since 2017. A Devonian who enjoys wittering on about his south west roots, Alex moved north to join NCG after more than a decade in London, the last five of which were with ESPN. Away from golf, Alex follows Torquay United and spends too much time playing his PlayStation or his guitar and not enough time practising his short game.
