Michael Kim believes Rory McIlroy practising at Augusta National before winning the Masters was irrelevant to the outcome. The back-to-back champion faces accusations of benefiting from having an unfair advantage after playing multiple practice rounds before the tournament began.
Kim, 32, was one of 91 players in this year’s field, missing the cut after finishing eight-over par through Thursday and Friday’s play. However, the one-time PGA Tour winner believes course knowledge only gets you so far, and noted that Justin Rose has even more Augusta experience than McIlroy.
In a post on X, responding to the ESPN talk show First Take about the champion having an unfair advantage, Kim said: “Yes, there are a number of rounds that ANGC [Augusta National Golf Club] will say no to for me to go by myself and play by myself.
“That number is prob a little lower for me than a guy like Rory. If you find a member to host you every time, there’s no limit.
“I had plenty of chances to go to ANGC myself if I wanted to, but I didn’t go. Better use of my time practising at home or wherever I am to get my game in better shape for my next tournament.
“Course knowledge only gets you so far. Plenty of golfers have even more experience at Augusta than Rory, like Justin Rose.” The latter made his 21st Masters start this year, three more than McIlroy.
Kim added: “It is not unfair or an advantage, people. It’s irrelevant to the result is my point. I guess my writing needs to get better.
“If I wanted to match the number of rounds at Augusta that Rory got, I easily could have done that.” However, one user (@RonDBelter) claimed he couldn’t afford a private jet to go back and forth every day.
Kim replied: “Actually, Ron, I can afford it, it’s just not financially smart to do that. There’s plenty of flights going to Augusta from anywhere else in the US.”
In a separate post, sharing his thoughts from the Masters, Kim said: “The course really does feel like it fits Rory so well. His high bombs off the tee and overall game let him find much easier birdies and eagles than most of the field. He has a comfort now around this place that guys like Tiger [Woods], Jack [Nicklaus], and Phil [Mickelson] had. He might have 4 or 5 by the end of his career.”