MONTREAL — Si Woo Kim grabbed his hat in his right hand before flipping it to his left to congratulate Tom Kim on their 4-and-3 win during Saturday’s morning four-ball session at the Presidents Cup. It was a normal scene during match play save for the fact Si Woo’s birdie attempt that ended the match was still moving. That made the gesture bombastic and irreverent, a sign that Si Woo has leaned a little too hard into his teammate’s caricature and become lost in the sauce.

Hat off. Match won. 🤫 pic.twitter.com/3k5DAOrkSz

— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) September 28, 2024

But make no mistake, these boys are not getting high on their own product. They are pumping it out and drinking it in and pouring it on the crowds and their opponents and frankly themselves. How else do you explain what we saw on Saturday morning at Royal Montreal, along with Friday and Thursday and all the way back at Quail Hollow two years ago? This South Korean Express is an electric train with zero concerns about staying on the tracks, and while they might not reach their intended destination, that’s also not the point. The Kims understand better than anyone at this Presidents Cup that sports, at its core, is entertainment. And they are more than happy to be performers.

Yes, Si Woo and Tom are here to win. For the first time in forever, that victory is in reach for the International team, even after their match win was the only triumph for the home side during the morning session. This is still a competition, and they are world-class professionals. But that does not have to be mutually exclusive to embracing a showmanship this game desperately lacks and often has no appetite for, which benefits this event and the fans and arguably themselves.

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Sometimes those theatrics can go sideways, like Thursday, when Tom’s chirping ended with Scottie Scheffler shoving him into a locker. There are old heads who believe it’s uncouth and goes against the gentlemanly ethos of the sport. But, with all due respect, shove that sentiment where the sun don’t shine. The Presidents Cup has lacked juice for decades, and here are Tom and Si Woo, turning into human nitrous oxide to make this engine purr.

“I know we had great chemistry at Charlotte and this week, so we’re looking forward to play like last Charlotte,” said Si Woo. “I remember we had a good memory, so yeah, I played good, and then what can I say, Tom Him?”

Tom Kim is ELECTRIC. ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/XDf0p9zoLV

— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) September 28, 2024

And they’re good at it! Golfers are notoriously terrible at celebrations. They can’t connect on high-fives and when they do celebrate it’s usually stilted and awkward. Or worse, it looks forced, prodded not by true emotion but by what they think they should do. Si Woo and Tom are naturals, because what you see is how they feel. Which isn’t necessarily revelatory and shouldn’t be a big deal, save for the fact that one of this event’s problems has been buy-in from those inside the ropes and out. When those watching see those playing genuinely do care, that’s a start in getting the Presidents Cup to where it ultimately wants to go.

So consider this a tip of the cap and extended hand to Si Woo and Tom. The match is far from over, but as you’ve both shown, we don’t need to see the end to know what we know.

This article was originally published on golfdigest.com