2023 The American Express: Top 10 Power Rankings at PGA West

Tom Kim is one of just two players in this week’s power rankings who are making the trek from the Sony Open in Hawaii to Palm Springs.

Granted, it’s just a two-hour time difference, but traveling east can be trickier than traveling west. Not to mention, Kim also teed it up two weeks ago at the Sentry Tournament of Champions where he took T-5th.

At age 20, this is the time in his career when he can jet set and play a bit more often than the seasoned veterans. I’m not too worried about fatigue.

So, Kim will venture to bounce back from a surprising missed cut last week at Waialae where he was the betting favorite to begin the week.

He might not even be many people’s top Kim this week. Si Woo Kim is the other player in this week’s power rankings who will be a popular pick thanks to his Sony win and past champion status at The American Express in 2021.

Tom Kim is already halfway to 27-year-old Si Woo’s career win total. Tom won the Wyndham Championship last season and the Shriners Children’s Open this season.

He recorded five top-25s in a row after the Shriners and four top-11s.

Kim hadn’t missed a cut worldwide since the PGA Championship in May until last week.

He’s endeared himself to fans with solid ball striking and an infectious personality. Kim did not have enough rounds recorded on the PGA Tour to count for statistical ranks last season, but he would have fit in at sixth in strokes gained approach per round (.771), right in between 2022 Open Champion of the Year Cameron Smith and 2021 Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama.