Kim caps off Sony Open comeback, Buckley rises in Rankings

Another week, another comeback story in Hawaii, this time courtesy of Si Woo Kim.

The former PLAYERS Champion started the final round three back of the U.S.’s Hayden Buckley, before racking up eight birdies on the day, including a highlight reel chip-in on the 71^st to tie the lead. The Korean standout would go on to sink the winning putt on the 18^th at Waialae Country Club and pick up his fourth PGA TOUR victory in the process.

“Always before the season starts like my goal is win the tournament, just one more the year, but this is one for one, so hopefully getting two soon,” Kim said after his win.

For Buckley, the solo second finish represented a victory of sorts, as the University of Missouri alum’s highest finish ever in a PGA TOUR event.

“We can never really complain about finishing second,” Buckley said. “Winning on the PGA TOUR is the hardest thing to do and sometimes you just get beat.”

For his efforts, Buckley also earned the biggest jump in this week’s Ryder Cup Rankings – up 29 spots from 41^st to 12^th.

The rest of the Top 12 remained unchanged, outside of Chris Kirk’s move from 19^th to 11^th, following his third-place finish in Oahu.

U.S. Team Captain Zach Johnson first announced the 2023 qualifying structure last year. Points in 2023 are awarded as follows:

- 1 point per $1,000 earned at regular PGA Tour events beginning January 1, including the Zurich Classic and WGC events, through the BMW Championship (August 20)

- 2 points per $1,000 earned for winner of the Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open and The Open

- 1.5 points per $1,000 earned for all others that make the cut at the Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open and The Open

- No points available at PGA Tour opposite-field events

Points qualification will conclude immediately after the second FedEx Cup Play-Off event (BMW Championship) on August 20, 2023, with the top six eligible players on the points list securing spots on the U.S. Team.

The six remaining slots on the U.S. Team will be Captain’s Selections and will be announced by Johnson following the 2023 Tour Championship.

For a full list of the Top 100 in the U.S. Ryder Cup standings, click here.