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The Seoul native stunned a strong field last
year to win the PGA Tour's flagship event when he was
21-years-old, his victory coming six years after compatriot K.J.
Choi also took the title.
If Kim defends his title at the $10.5 million tournament from
May 10-13 this year, he would be the first to do so since it was
established in 1974.
"Someone told me there hasn't been any back-to-back champion,
and I've noticed a lot of champions who come back don't play
well," the 22-year-old said at a media event at TPC Sawgrass in
Florida on Monday.
"I would like to change that, and I'm already preparing to come
back and defend my title this year."
Kim said returning to the scene of his biggest victory conjured
up many happy memories.
"To see my pictures up on the wall and to drive up to this
course, it brings back a lot of memories, and even though all
tournaments are great, I would like to come back and win this
one and defend my title," he added.
Kim, ranked 53rd in the world, said that while it was an honor
to have won the same title as Choi, he had a long way to go to
matching the feats of the South Korean trailblazer, who has won
eight times on the elite U.S. tour.
"I don't think I'm quite there yet. Obviously K.J. has a lot
more wins and a lot of experience. I currently only have two
wins. But I definitely hope to be as great by having more wins
and playing on the tour."
Kim also said he was glad to be returning to full fitness after
his form was hampered by a back problem.
"I went back to Korea last winter, and I think just having the
cold weather there didn't help, and I didn't really exercise or
stretch as much as I should have, so looking back, I think
that's what caused a lot of the injury,” he said.
"Now it feels great. I'm able to swing without any pain."
He added that it was great to see Tiger Woods, who won the
Players in 2001 and 2013, returning to the tour after recovering
from back surgeries.
"To know that we're both The Players and to know that we both
won on this course, it's pretty amazing, and to just see him out
there practicing is just unreal because he's such a legendary
player and I watched him growing up and watched him just
dominate the sport," said Kim.
"I'm hoping to play with him one day. I haven't played with him
yet in a tournament, so I'm looking forward to that day.”
(Writing by Peter Rutherford; Editing by Nick Mulvenney)
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