When it comes to team events like the Presidents Cup, no golfer is playing for himself. He has his country to make proud and, well, his playing partner. That much is true for Tom Kim, too. What does that reveal about Kim and his success on Saturday? The answer lies in his sessions with Si Woo Kim and his own confessions.

On Saturday, Kim paired up with Si Woo Kim against Collin Morikawa and Wyndham Clark. For the most part, the old partnership was extraordinary, especially after the International team members defeated the American pair. But it did not come without Tom Kim “sacrificing” himself for his playing partner.

Following the match and during a press conference, Kim, who has partnered with Si Woo for three days in a row, confessed, “I just tried to make as many pars for Si Woo as possible. He was playing great, and I was kind of the sacrificial lamb today. I was trying to be in play so he could be aggressive. The point that we won was because of him, and I couldn’t be more proud of him, and I’m grateful to have him as my partner.”

Tom Kim’s sacrifice proved fruitful for his team. The pair defeated Morikawa and Clark 2 and 1. The pair has been at it the entire Presidents Cup, in fact. On Friday, they defeated Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay 4 and 3. On Thursday, they beat Patrick Cantlay and Chris Gotterup 3 and 2 in four-ball.

This confidence is more striking precisely because of the Kim’s underconfidence felt two years ago. Back then, on the 16th hole, Kim messed up.

Si Woo was left to deal with the disaster, which he did. At that time, as per the PGA Tour, he said, “I put us in the worst spot possible, and I thought, ‘I’m going to lose us this match.'” Things have changed a lot in these two years, clearly.

Best part? The respect and acknowledgment are mutual.

“We know very well each other. Sometimes he helps me a lot, gives me a lot of confidence, and I think I give him a lot of confidence. I think that’s why we’ve been like high-pressure ones,” Si Woo said about Tom Kim, as per the PGA Tour. And honestly, it makes sense.

The two are old partners, going as far back as 2022 when they defeated Schauffele and Cantlay 1-up at Quail Hollow. In 2024, they won in a four-ball against Keegan Bradley and Clark, 4 and 3, before losing momentum with a loss against Schauffele and Cantlay (1-up). The win on the third day came at an important time.

The International Team started the day with a 7-3 lead after winning all five foursomes matches on Friday, only the third time the International Team had swept an entire session in Presidents Cup history. That 7-3 lead matched the team’s biggest two-session advantage, set in 1998—the only year the International Team won the Cup.

Captain Geoff Ogilvy, aware of how quickly a lead can disappear in this format, cautioned afterward that the color of the leaderboard “can change quickly.” With 30 points available in total and 15½ needed to win, every point mattered, and Tom Kim and Si Woo Kim delivered again.

The pair had already become one of the strongest teams in the tournament. PGA Tour coverage also talked about their strong teamwork before the matches at Medinah. It was a rematch of an important match from the 2024 Presidents Cup. The Friday win was especially impressive. The Americans stayed close for the first eight holes. Then, on the ninth hole, Si Woo made a 25-foot birdie putt. The shot excited both players and helped them take control of the match.

Si Woo played very well with his irons, while Tom Kim’s putting was a big reason for their early success. Tom made four of their six birdies, helping the Kims build a strong lead before the American team could fight back.

Si Woo Kim made clear the win wasn’t a solo effort, crediting his partner specifically for the putts that closed out the match. “The last two holes was tricky putts. And I think my read, I would have missed, but he gave me so many good reads,” Si Woo said. “I just trust him, just put the line and trust in myself, and it worked through.” He also pointed to an earlier moment as pivotal: “He did a really good shots on 14 that I think was an important thing for the match.”

Tom did not take much credit for his own performance. After three straight wins, the two players have built a strong partnership based on trust and good communication. The International Team will need that same teamwork again on Sunday.

Team USA seized momentum in the afternoon, winning three of four Saturday morning fourball matches. Team USA won three of the four Saturday morning fourball matches, cutting the International Team’s lead to 8-6. Tom and Si Woo were the only International pair to win in the morning, making their point even more important; it stopped Team USA from cutting the gap further during a session the Americans otherwise controlled.

In fourball, one player can play safely while the other takes more risks. Only the better score between the two players counts on each hole. Tom Kim’s steady play and his help with reading the greens gave Si Woo the freedom to attack the pins. This allowed Si Woo to take more chances and make the important putts that helped them win the match.

The International Team kept the same four pairings for the afternoon despite losing the morning session, putting more pressure on Tom and Si Woo to deliver another win against Cantlay and help their team regain control before Sunday’s 12 singles matches.